Posted on 09/16/2003 6:32:05 PM PDT by chance33_98
Action sought in Kentridge Bible club battle
2003-09-16 by Nora Doyle Journal Reporter
KENT -- A Kentridge High School student and a former student asked the U.S. District Court in Seattle Monday to take immediate action to allow a Bible club to meet on the high school campus.
Approval of a motion for a preliminary injunction filed by attorneys for the Truth Bible Club would allow members to temporarily open the club at Kentridge for the remainder of the school year, until the court issues a final ruling in a civil lawsuit set for trial in June 2004.
In April, then-senior Sarice Undis and then-junior Julianne Stewart filed a civil suit against Kent School District officials for refusing to let them open a Bible study club on the Kentridge campus.
The lawsuit contends that by prohibiting the teens from starting the Truth Bible Club, the school has prevented them from exercising their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and free exercise of religion.
The suit names district superintendent Barbara Grohe and Kentridge's principal and assistant principal. It asks that the school allow the girls to start the Bible club on the same terms as other school clubs. The girls are also asking for a nominal damage award, as well as reimbursement for attorneys' fees.
Robert Tyler, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, a national religious liberties organization in Arizona, represents Stewart and Undis. Undis is now a freshman at Washington State University. Tyler said the time is right to bring this issue up again in court because school is back in session.
``We're simply attempting to level the playing field for all clubs,'' Tyler said.
The school district doesn't have any objection to students opening a Bible club on campus, said district counsel Michael Harrington. Rather, the district's objections are to some of the terms of the club charter.
The Truth Bible Club calls for limiting full membership and officer status to students who take an oath of Christianity, Harrington said. Because the club would be an Associated Student Body organization, which means it would be supported by dues paid by the entire student body, the school district believes the entire student body should be able to join the Bible club as full members, Harrington said.
``They're asking all students to support their club, but not all students would be eligible,'' Harrington said.
Harrington said he would hope the Bible club could operate more like the Kentridge Native American/Alaskan Native Club. The students in that club discuss issues relevant to their heritage but they don't require members to be American Indian or Alaskan native.
Another issue the district takes with the club is its name, the Truth Bible Club. The district has asked whether club founders need to ``thumb their nose'' at other beliefs by having the word ``truth'' in the name.
``It may be more accurate to call them the Christian Bible Club. That way, people of another faith won't be offended,'' Harrington said.
According to court papers, Truth Bible Club members want to gather on school grounds to discuss religious issues of concern to Christian students.
Nora Doyle covers education. She can be reached at nora.doyle@kingcountyjournal.com or 253-872-6726.
Especially by the Truth!
Unfortunately it is going to come down to either civil unrest or war. I don't think these activist judges understand what they are doing. We have a constitution that clearly forbids this kind of thing from happening...you can not stifle freedom of religion or freedom of speech in public. These judges are doing nothing more than blatantly rewriting law and their day will be forth coming because of their ignorant arrogance.
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