Attorney Argues NY Schools Discriminate Against Christian Students

(AgapePress) email ^ | October 25, 2004 | Jim Brown

[eleni121]

- A school district that limits the religious expression of Christian students is allowing Muslim students to skip class to observe the month of Ramadan. The New York City Department of Education has given Muslim students at Brooklyn International High School permission to miss class four consecutive Fridays to observe the religious holiday.

To Rob Muise of the Thomas More Law Center, the district's actions suggest that it is employing a double standard. He is currently prosecuting a lawsuit that challenges a New York City School System policy barring nativity scenes during Christmas, but permitting the display of the Jewish Menorah during Hanukah and the Islamic star and crescent during Ramadan.

"While it's interesting that they're allowing the students to worship during the Ramadan period," Muise says, "I would be curious to know if they would afford the same opportunities to Christian students during Good Friday, for example."

The attorney doubts Christian students would be given the same consideration. "I would venture to guess that there's probably some diversity in terms of the way they treat Christianity compared to these other religions, which is the unsettling part of all this," he says.

The Law Center lawyer notes that he believes providing students with a reasonable accommodation to exercise their religious freedom is a good thing -- as long as this is done fairly. "The Establishment Clause requires the government to be neutral towards all religions," he says, "and here, what the school is claiming [is] that, while there's a lot of Christianity and a lot of Christian symbols, [the schools are] trying to create parity."

The problem with this policy, Muise says, is that the school district seems to be "trying to create this affirmative action prong to the Establishment Clause, but there isn't one." In fact, the attorney points out, the government is obligated to remain impartial and to "treat all religions equally. But in the New York City Public Schools, they're certainly not treating Christianity the same way they treat Judaism and, certainly, Islam."

The New York nativity scene case is awaiting oral argument before a three-judge panel of the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Late last year the Thomas More Law Center also brought a federal lawsuit against the Town of Palm Beach, Florida, over its refusal to allow Christian nativity scenes on public property, even though displays of the Jewish Menorah are allowed.

[Paperdoll]

One of my granddaughters organized a lunchtime Bible study group in the cafeteria of her high school. They met often and the group mushroomed, thankfully with no interference.
I am so proud of her courage and inovation.

[eleni121]

Nice job!

I will be adding too.

[eleni121]

You must be living on one of those darned red states!

[Landru]

"One of my granddaughters organized a lunchtime Bible study group in the cafeteria of her high school. They met often and the group mushroomed, thankfully with no interference. I am so proud of her courage and inovation."

As well you should be proud, doll.

NYCity's public schools try to accommodate everyone except the Christian and insoding *think* they're being "fair" & "equal".

...nuts, huh.

[so_real]

The New York City Department of Education has given Muslim students at Brooklyn International High School permission to miss class four consecutive Fridays to observe the religious holiday.

Let's gather up all the religious days that are celebrated by all religions across the globe, put them on the calendar, and let the kids skip school those days in order to observe those holidays if they so choose. That's fair and neutral, right? I imagine there will still be a few months worth of days in the year where the kids can actually be educated.

On second thought, screw 'em. This is America and we've already got enough American holidays and tough luck that they are based upon our Christian religion. Melt, I tell ya, melt or get out.

[reaganaut]

another day, another outrageous public school story, another reason to home school...

Amen!

[M. Espinola]

This whole thing is insane and must be challenged in the NY courts. The enemy in our own backyard should not be allowed to make the rules as it's suits their cause. Hate, hate & more hate!

[bonny011765]

Principal Can't Even Say Word Bible?

Please add this to your catalogue of public school inanities. It was talked about on Limbaugh today

[ariamne]

Home schooling is ideal; but some of us don't have that option. Hence we have to fight tooth and nail and it's really a David/Goliath fight. My seven year old is singing in a "Winter Concert" this month and they changed "We wish you a Merry Christmas" to "We wish you a Swinging Holiday" (gag). One of the lines is "We wish you a peaceful Ramadan." Another mother and I went in swinging, but the principal said he didn't want the muslim students in the school to feel left out. Well gee. Maybe should have thought about that before the stinkin "holiday" ended! Luckily my daughter totally gets it. She just stops singing when they get to that part. She knows Ramadan is when islamofacsists step up their attacks and I told her what Islam represents these days. Parents, get involved. Even if you lose a battle, keep fighting the war. It keeps them on their toes.

[evilrightwingconspirator]

ping

[Liz]

The Secular Taliban strikes again.

[Cindy]

and in Florida...
and in other news....

http://www.thefire.org/index.php/article/5108.html

"Florida College Bans The Passion of the Christ; Launches Campaign Against Free Speech"

January 14, 2005

FIRE Press Release

PRESS RELEASE SNIPPET: "FORT PIERCE, Fla., January 14, 2005—Florida’s Indian River Community College (IRCC) is engaging in a campaign of repression against a Christian student group for attempting to show Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ on campus.  In November 2004, the college banned the Christian Student Fellowship (CSF) from showing the film because it was R-rated, despite the fact that the college has hosted a live performance entitled “F**king for Jesus” that describes simulated sex with “the risen Christ.”  CSF students report that after their group wrote President Edwin R. Massey in protest, administrators pulled group leaders out of class and, astoundingly, demanded an apology from them for their actions.  Now, CSF is unable even to officially meet because its advisor resigned after IRCC imposed a burdensome new policy requiring that faculty advisors attend all student group meetings."