Judge halts Bible giveaway at Mo. school

AP on Yahoo ^ | 9/7/06 | Jeff Douglas - ap

[NormsRevenge]

ST. LOUIS - A federal judge ordered a small-town school to suspend a program that gives free Bibles to students, saying it improperly promotes Christianity.

U.S. District Court Judge Catherine Perry also scolded school officials for continuing the program after warnings that it violated the Constitution.

South Iron Elementary in Annapolis, a town of 300 in southeastern Missouri, has quietly allowed Gideons International to hand out Bibles to fifth-graders for years. After concerns were raised last year, the then-superintendent consulted with the district's attorneys and insurance company and recommended that the handouts stop, but the school board voted to continue them.

Acting on behalf of two sets of parents from the district, the American Civil Liberties Union sued in February in federal court in St. Louis.

"The defendants were repeatedly told that their actions violated the Constitution, but they chose not to heed those cautions," Perry wrote in the preliminary injunction issued Wednesday.

A final ruling is not expected for months.

Eastern Missouri ACLU legal director Anthony Rothert said the injunction was "a victory for parents who want to direct the religious upbringing of their children without interference from public schools."

Erik Stanley — an attorney for Liberty Counsel, part of Jerry Falwell's Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., which represented the school district — called the ruling unconstitutional and said it would continue to fight the case.

Gideons, based in Nashville, Tenn., distributes more than 63 million pocket-sized Bibles each year in hotels, prisons, hospitals and schools worldwide, according to the organization's Web site. A spokesman for the organization declined to comment.

___

On the Net:

School district: http://schoolweb.missouri.edu/southiron.k12.mo.us

Eastern Missouri ACLU: http://www.aclu-em.org

Liberty Counsel: http://www.lc.org

[freedumb2003]

Wrong! Driveing [sic] is a right!

No it isn't. It is a privilege.

[freedumb2003]

It most certainly does not.

It certainly does. What other possible reason would the State have in issuing a Holy Book except to strongly imply said book is the State Religion?

[msnimje]

It certainly does. What other possible reason would the State have in issuing a Holy Book except to strongly imply said book is the State Religion?

The state was not issuing bibles, it was the Gideons.

[steveo]

Year ago the Gideons handed out bibles outside my daughters middle school. As we drove down the street, we saw how some threw the bibles into the street where they were run over.

I think that was profound moment in her life as she realized those who threw them away needed them most. All I had to say was 'I think you're right about that sweetie'.

[Recovering_Democrat]

What a ridiculous judge.

[freedumb2003]

The state was not issuing bibles, it was the Gideons.

I don't see the difference.

[little jeremiah]

And how many parents have no problim with the Bible giveaway or actually appreciate it? I suppose they mean nothing even though they are most like the majority.

[little jeremiah]

Yes, the the two (sets?) parents want to make it so that no one can be given a Bible. Their own kids could refuse them, no problem. But they want to control everyone else's kid too.

[little jeremiah]

Where does the phrase "implying a state religion" appear in the BOR?

So now "implying" something is forbidden according the Constitution (according to you). Also, the Gideons are not Congress establishing anything, last I heard.

[little jeremiah]

How about sex ed? Should kids be taught that homosexual sex acts are fine, that "gay" marriage is fine, how to use condoms, where the Planned Parenthood Clinic is, and so on?

[msnimje]

The state was not issuing bibles, it was the Gideons. I don't see the difference.

You do not see the difference between the Gideons and the United States of America?

[little jeremiah]

Heheh - free"dumb".....

[freedumb2003]

You do not see the difference between the Gideons and the United States of America?

*DOH* I thought they were making a distinction between the Bible and the Gideons (LOL).

Well, it is Friday.

But the issue is still whether this should happen in on school grounds. It still looks like it is sanctioning State Religion.

[msnimje]

But the issue is still whether this should happen in on school grounds. It still looks like it is sanctioning State Religion.

Most people understand the difference between "allowing" a religion and "requiring" one.

[freedumb2003]

Heheh - free"dumb"..

I am always amused when people's brains are so small they have to make fun of my name in the absence of the ability to think.

But you can take comfort from knowing you are far from alone. Interestingly, the bulk of people in your intellectual camp are Fundamentalists. I don't know if you are one of these -- I just wanted you to know who your fellows are.

[torchthemummy]

Eastern Missouri ACLU legal director Anthony Rothert said the injunction was "a victory for parents who want to direct the religious upbringing of their children without interference from public schools."

...but when it comes to sex education the ACLU supports the prohibition in California of parents deciding what their kids should or shouldn't learn.

Standard liberal hypocrisy.

[freedumb2003]

Most people understand the difference between "allowing" a religion and "requiring" one.

Context is everything. I guess if the State allows the passing out of all other religious texts then I could see it. But allowing a monopoly is the same as endorsement.

[msnimje]

Context is everything. I guess if the State allows the passing out of all other religious texts then I could see it. But allowing a monopoly is the same as endorsement.

Allow it? They require it. Before I yanked by son out of public school he HAD to read, write and discuss many of the world's religions.

[ladyinred]

I am so darn sick of one lousy liberal judge who can take away the rights of religious freedom guaranteed by the constitution I could scream.. Where did they get all of this power????

[freedumb2003]

They require it. Before I yanked by son out of public school he HAD to read, write and discuss many of the world's religions.

Did you object to that? Seems like a good line of education.