Some Bay State schools skip prayers, await ruling

The Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts has twice been denied a preliminary injunction suspending a new school-prayer law until its constitutionality is determined. But some school boards are still refusing to comply with the law until a final ruling is handed down from the state's Supreme Judicial Court, perhaps as soon as March.

The new law, which went into effect Feb. 5, requires all teachers to set aside a period for silent or audible prayers, to be led by pupils. Students or teachers not wanting to take part are allowed to leave the classroom.