Decision Banning Bible Distribution Appealed to 8th Circuit
by Jim Brown
September 20, 2006
(AgapePress) - - A Missouri elementary school is appealing a federal judge's decision to put an end to the school's Bible-giveaway program for fifth-graders.Judge Catherine Perry's preliminary injunction says South Iron Elementary School in Annapolis wrongly allowed the Gideons International to distribute the Bibles solely to promote Christianity to students. Perry singled out Bibles as being different than any other religious literature because Christians believe it contains the Word of God.
Mat Staver is founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, which is appealing the ruling on behalf of the school. Staver says the school has a constitutional policy of treating all requests to distribute literature the same. "I think [Perry's] decision is absolutely ludicrous," the Christian attorney asserts. "It is inconsistent with the First Amendment, it's certainly contrary to our American history, and we intend to have this decision reversed on appeal."
Mat Staver | |
Staver is convinced the case has far-reaching ramifications. He says if Judge Perry's ruling stands -- that is, Bibles are essentially an "instrument of religion" and "inherently different" from other kinds of literature -- it could affect anyone who wants to give away a Bible."[T]hat means that either the distribution [of a Bible] by a private group like the Gideons or the distribution by a private individual student to a fellow student would be banned," Staver suggests. "We don't believe that's what the Constitution requires." Judge Perry, adds the Liberty Counsel founder, is treating the Bible as if it were "a radioactive device that harms children."
Historically, the school has allowed secular groups such as the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and the Red Cross to hand out literature. The lawsuit seeking the Bible ban was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union. Liberty Counsel's appeal was filed with the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Jim Brown, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
