Families Challenge School’s ‘Separation’ Argument
By Charlie Butts – OneNewsNow
A Pennsylvania Christian children’s group has been fighting for equal treatment at a school.
Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Child Evangelism Fellowship of Pennsylvania, and affiliated attorney Joshua Bollinger is handling the case. “In this case, school district officials in Havertown Township, Pennsylvania, denied a local Christian ministry access to a flyer distribution program that is open to other groups,” he explains.
Non-religious organizations, according to an ADF press release, are able to send home with children flyers informing students and their families about local activities and meetings. Bollinger was asked what types of organizations qualify. “Cub Scouts, YMCA, neighborhood associations — but school district officials repeatedly denied Child Evangelism Fellowship of Pennsylvania access to this program,” he adds.
The attorney says school officials gave familiar excuses. According to Bollinger, “they cited the religious nature of the flyers and the so-called ‘separation of church and state'” — an argument he deems unconstitutional.
Bollinger will contend in court that school officials’ actions represent viewpoint discrimination, and he notes there are numerous federal court decisions to back up the claim. “The courts have repeatedly ruled that government schools cannot treat people with non-religious viewpoints more favorable than [they do] people with religious viewpoints,” Bollinger concludes.
(Source: OneNewsNow.com)
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