Posted on 03/03/2005 5:40:53 PM PST by kingattax
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The state Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday there is "substantial evidence" that the Portland School District illegally discriminated against an atheist student by allowing in-school recruiting by the Boy Scouts.
The 6-3 decision is the latest development in a long-running battle by an atheist mother to prevent the Boy Scouts from recruiting in Portland schools because the organization requires a belief in God.
The new ruling sends the case back to the state school superintendent for conciliation efforts to resolve the dispute. The district, meanwhile, is considering adopting a policy that could ban Scouts from recruiting during school hours.
The controversy began in 1996, when Nancy Powell, an atheist, objected to Boy Scout recruiting visits to an elementary school attended by her son, Remington, who is now in high school.
Nancy Powell sued the school district in 1998, claiming that because the Scout oath and principles require a belief in God, the recruiting violated the Oregon Constitution's ban on government involvement with religion.
The appeals court in 2002 ruled in the school district's favor, saying the recruiting did not amount to an "unconstitutionally excessive entanglement of government with religion."
The state Supreme Court let the lower court decision stand by refusing to review it.
The Court of Appeals' decision Wednesday came in a separate lawsuit brought by Powell under a state statute forbidding public schools from discriminating based on religion.
Former State School Superintendent Stan Bunn concluded that there was no solid evidence of discrimination, but the appeals court disagreed in a ruling upholding Multnomah County Circuit Judge Ellen Rosenblum.
"There is substantial evidence that, by giving the Scouts the access that it does, the district treats those students who are eligible to join the Scouts differently from those who are not," the appeals court said.
The court said while all students have been required to listen to an introductory presentation, "only the students who meet a religious test may accept the invitation to join."
That amounts to substantial evidence, the court said, that the district "subjects persons to differentiated treatment in a school activity on the ground of religion."
Does that mother understand what she's doing to her son's sense of self? Odds are this boy is in for a full lifetime of sexual dysfunction, and that's just for starters!
She named her kid Remington?
How 'bout we just assume that government schools and agencies are anti-God? Since they want nothing to do with Him, perhaps His people should not be associated with groups that hate Him.
Ah, those liberal Left Coast judges! What a hoot! The dirty bastages (judges) ought to be used for knot tying skills by the Boy Scouts!
OK, now I'm getting sick of atheists, too. They need to shut up.
LOL
Uh, boys, that is. Gee, wonder why a girl hasn't come forward with a lawsuit. Oh yeah, because they're normal human beings and not insecure a**holes who need to legislate their own beliefs.
Nancy needs a bitch slap plain and simple these whackos get whackier by the minute, has she no sense at all, what about her son, doesn't she see what's happening here, this is why we need God in our lives!
I no longer recognize America.
As a previous poster said, I doubt the sctouts want him.
Scouts, rather.
The courts/judges are getting ridiculous! It's no wonder we have increased lawlessness. There is less respect for the courts/laws each day by average and otherwise law abiding citizens because of rulings like this.
welcome nOOb! pip pip talley ho tea at two? ho ho ho lmao!
Schools are owned by the taxpayers, not the government?
That lady needs her noodle examined.
Some people have waaaaaaay too much time on their hands.
...And I'm sure Remington just *loves* all the attention he's been getting!
Indeed, indeed! Bally good thread, wot?
LOL
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