An Enloe High School social studies teacher appears to want to invite back to his class a Christian evangelist who recently denounced Islam at the school.

The evangelist, Kamil Solomon, opened students' minds to "see more light," said an e-mail message apparently from teacher Robert Escamilla that Solomon posted on his Web site this weekend.

Escamilla invited Solomon to several of his social studies classes Feb. 16, and Solomon asked students to embrace Christianity and distributed pamphlets denouncing Islam. Parents who saw the pamphlets were outraged, and constitutional lawyers said the visit violated the First Amendment, which courts have ruled prohibits promoting religion in public schools.

The message posted on Solomon's Web site Friday for less than 24 hours said, "Thank you so much for coming and speaking so effectively to our students, helping them to open their minds and see more light. I think we should be able to get you back again."

The seven-sentence posting ends, "May God continue to richly bless you and to powerfully use you to give Him much glory." It is signed "your brother and friend in Christ, Robert."

Also on the Web site was a message that apparently came from Enloe teacher Marian Johnson, whom Escamilla identified as his department's chairwoman. It began, "Hello all" and defended Solomon's visit: "It is our responsibility as educators to give our students the tools by which to evaluate, question and research issues they may encounter."

Contacted Monday, Escamilla would not confirm that he had written the posting. He only said he was asked not to speak about the incident with reporters. Johnson could not be reached for comment.

Although the postings were removed Saturday, they shed light on the school's handling of the incident. They also echo Principal Beth Cochran's note last week that "at Enloe we pride ourselves on encouraging the free exchange of ideas."

Solomon's visit has come under criticism by several Muslim organizations locally and nationally. The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina is also looking into the incident.

A Wake Schools spokesman said the visit by Solomon, an Egyptian-born evangelist who lives in Raleigh, was under investigation. "Right now we're conducting a review of what happened," Michael Evans said. "Any appropriate action will be taken when the review is finished."

Evans said the Wake school system does not have a formal policy on guest speakers and principals set guidelines. At Enloe, teachers must show their department heads any questionable materials handed out by visitors.

It's unknown whether Escamilla sought permission to bring in Solomon.

Invoking Jesus

Former Enloe students said they were not surprised Escamilla invited Solomon to his classroom. Brittany Harrison of Wendell said she remembers an incident in 1999 when Escamilla appeared on a student-run closed circuit TV program and quoted a New Testament passage about Jesus: "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord."

"It was very plain, if you were not a Christian you were bound for hell," Harrison said. "I thought it was pretty inappropriate."

Jefferson Powell, a professor at Duke Law School, who teaches constitutional law, said it was hard to see how Solomon's visit had anything other than a religious purpose.

"This is not a case I would want to defend for the state," he said.

Solomon did not return phone or e-mail messages.

Muslims take offense

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