Texas Public School Ordered Student to Attend Religious Sermon Instead of Study Hall: Family

A high school class in the Mansfield Independent School District was allegedly made to attend a religious assembly during the school day, resulting in one family claiming religious imposition upon students.

Mansfield resident John Luna claimed his son, a freshman at Lake Ridge High School, was made to attend a meeting of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes during his advisory study hall period.

"This class allows him to get his work done," said Luna to journalists at NBC 5. "But today, what they did is he received an email on his Chromebook stating to report to this auditorium."

Luna also stated that the students were not given the option to opt-out of the special assembly.

"And it was mandatory, and all of his class went in with this other group of kids," said Luna. "And the only thing he knew, a man came up on stage and said, please take out your bibles, and if not look it up on the internet."

Luna's son, who was not introduced to religion in his family, recorded the religious service.

"Jesus, thank you for dying for me. I believe I am a sinner who needed a savior, come into my life, make me new again," the leader of the assembly can be heard saying in the recording.

"I didn't understand why he's being told to do something that he has not subscribed to," said Luna. "And it's fine if they do that, but I don't know why he's being forced to do something that's religious when they don't know his religion, they don't know what he believes."

The Mansfield Independent School District told NBC 5 that participation in such services was voluntary for Lake Ridge High School students, and that a recent scheduling change allowed students to attend FCA meetings during study hall advisory periods.

"Going forward, the teacher will ensure that students understand their attendance at such a meeting is entirely optional, and alternatives will be made clear," said the statement from Mansfield ISD.

Luna also stated that the principal of Lake Ridge High School called him to apologize for the incident.