Charisma News– A school worker in Augusta, Maine, was ordered to stop using religious phrases like “I will pray for you” and “You were in my prayers” because such language is not allowed inside a public school building—even in private conversations with coworkers.
The Augusta School Department launched an investigation of Toni Richardson after they alleged she “imposed some strong religious/spiritual belief system” toward a co-worker. Now, imposing your religion on someone is a serious allegation. Was Ms. Richardson forcing her co-worker to convert to Christianity? Did she attempt to baptize him against his will? It turned out to be nothing of the sort. According to an official memorandum from the school district, Ms. Richardson had told a colleague that she was going to pray for him. It just so happens that Ms. Richardson and the colleague attended the same church.
Back in 2016, the colleague had been having a difficult time adjusting to his new job and Ms. Richardson did what most Christians would do—she told him that she would be praying for him.
Months later, the colleague and Ms. Richardson had a falling out—leading to the complaint about the prayers.
The district sent Ms. Richardson a “coaching memorandum”—warning her that such language is not acceptable—”even if that other person attends the same church as you.”
She was not even allowed to use the word “blessing.”
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