Free Republic

U.S. Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Case of Football Coach Prohibited from Bowing Head During Team's Pre-Game Prayer, Lets Stand Prayer Ban WASHINGTON, DC - In a blow to athletic coaches across the country, the United States Supreme Court has refused to weigh in on the question of whether or not high school football coaches have a right to silently bow their heads as a sign of respect while their student players offer a pre-game prayer.

Teen Screen Lawsuit Advances: Federal Court Affirms Family’s Right to Sue School for Subjecting Teen to Mental Health Test Without Parental Consent SOUTH BEND, Ind.—A federal court has given the green light to a civil rights lawsuit filed by Rutherford Institute attorneys in defense of a 15-year-old Indiana student who was subjected by school officials to a controversial mental health examination without the knowledge or consent of her parents. In ruling that the lawsuit filed on behalf of Chelsea Rhoades and her parents, Teresa and Michael, may proceed to trial, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana...

The former Christian conservative says Halliburton is building detention centers for American citizens. Long-time religious freedom advocate John Whitehead has taken a sharp left turn on U.S. national security. The founder of the 25 year old Charlottesville, Virginia based Rutherford Institute has long battled secularist attempts to minimize religious expression in public. More controversially, Whitehead helped Paula Jones in her sexual harassment lawsuit against then President Clinton in the 1990’s. Ostensibly, Whitehead was part of the “vast right-wing conspiracy” against which Hillary Clinton inveighed. But Whitehead was always more quixotic than predictable, and his recent commentaries condemn religious conservatives for...

A federal judge ruled yesterday that the East Brunswick High School football coach can bend a knee and bow his head while his players recite pre-game prayers this season, ending a dispute that had mushroomed into a nationally recognized test of the separation of church and state. After nearly two hours of arguments, U.S. District Judge Dennis Cavanaugh sided with the coach, Marcus Borden, declaring "taking a knee" isn't praying and that the Middlesex County school district can't order him to stand still while his players perform a locker room ritual that spans decades. "Tradition plays a part, and the...

Via The Rutherford Institute Attorneys for The Rutherford Institute have agreed to represent a high school senior whose microphone was unplugged by school officials after she began to speak about her Christian beliefs during her valedictory address. When Foothill High School valedictorian Brittany McComb began reading a speech that contained Bible verses and references to God and her faith in Jesus Christ during her commencement speech on June 15, 2006, officials with the Clark County School District unplugged the microphone. Institute attorneys plan to file a First Amendment lawsuit against the school district for having violated Brittany's constitutional right to...

Recently the Internal Revenue Service released a report showing that nearly three quarters of 82 tax-exempt groups investigated during the 2004 elections took part in prohibited political activity. But now, churches and nonprofit organizations have a new resource to help keep them out of trouble with the IRS. The IRS says several of the organizations and churches will probably lose their tax-exempt status, a fact that will very likely affect future contributions to these groups. In an effort to help churches, ministries, and other faith-based institutions avoid such errors, The Rutherford Institute, a Virginia-based civil liberties organization, has issued guidelines...

A civil liberties group has filed a First Amendment lawsuit against a Virginia school on behalf of a Spanish teacher whose religious-themed posters were removed from his classroom while he was out sick. The Rutherford Institute is representing William Lee, a public school teacher at Tabb High School in Yorktown, Va., and faculty sponsor of an approved Christian club called First Priority. "Academic freedom is a core First Amendment value," said John Whitehead, president of the Rutherford Institute, in a statement. "The real question is whether William Lee has the same free speech rights as other teachers." In the beginning...

Christian Rock Band Sues Ohio School District That Banned Them From Playing at a Public High School The Associated Press Published: Feb 17, 2005 TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - A Christian rock band banned from playing at a public school assembly filed a federal lawsuit against the suburban Toledo district on Thursday, claiming discrimination and violation of their right to free speech. Rossford High School officials in December canceled the band Pawn's performance at an anti-drug assembly. Board members said they feared a lawsuit if they allowed a religious performance in a public school. School officials declined to comment Thursday on...

People cannot not be barred from juries solely because their clothing or occupation suggest they are devoutly religious, the state Supreme Court ruled yesterday. The court ruled that an assistant Essex County prosecutor abused his discretion during jury selection when he tossed a man whose attire and prayer cap suggested he was Muslim, and another who said he was a missionary. The prosecutor contended that people who are "demonstrative" about their religions "tend to favor defendants." In a 6-0 decision written by Chief Justice Deborah Poritz, the court noted that followers of certain faiths are readily identifiable by their clothing...

They are Christmas and Chanukah rites in their own cheerless ways, those annual December disputes over what to sing, what to say, and what religious symbols to display in public space.The Maplewood-South Orange school district had its own controversy this month, as its ban on religious songs -- even instrumental versions -- at Columbia High School drew national ridicule, and a federal lawsuit.And in Oklahoma, voters angry at a superintendent who removed a Nativity scene from a school show organized to defeat an $11 million school bond measure.The people objecting are those who feel religion is being driven out...

If you think celebrations in Britain are becoming too politically correct then don't go to the US. Philip Sherwell reports For her son's school "holiday party" last week, Julie West baked a birthday cake for the baby Jesus - a gesture of defiance both against his teachers and the growing campaign in America to remove any trace of Christmas from public life. Six-year-old Aaron had brought home a note from his school, in Washington state, that asked parents to provide food that their family traditionally enjoyed during the holiday season. "He asked for the cake I make at Christmas with...

(CNSNews.com) - A civil liberties organization has published a step-by-step guide to understanding what can and cannot be done to celebrate the holidays in public. The Rutherford Institute's "The Twelve Rules of Christmas" was compiled because of a growing tendency among public schools and government officials to ban references to Christmas or Christianity during the holiday season. "Whether through ignorance or fear, Americans are painfully misguided about the recognition of religious holidays," said John Whitehead, president of the Rutherford Institute. "Every year we hear many complaints from parents about school officials banning any reference to the word 'Christmas.' "There...

As an American, I have always been inspired by the fact that my country welcomes those who seek refuge. And as long as our government officials maintain our borders and ensure that those coming from other countries are screened in order to protect those who legally live here, the concept of welcoming immigrants is a noble one. However, something has gone awry. Indeed, illegal immigration into the U.S. has become an immense problem and a clear and present danger. Documented illegal immigration has more than doubled in the last decade. It has grown, by conservative counts, from 3.5 million in...

This was not the mother’s first trip to her child’s classroom, where parents regularly volunteered to lead story time. Because it coincided with the holiday season, she thought the ideal story to tell would be the original Christmas story that began nearly 2,000 years ago. But she remembered the memo. Sent weeks earlier, it was a stern reminder by the school principal that children in public schools could not celebrate Christmas. The sensitive kindergarten teacher added in her own handwriting, “It’s that old ‘separation of church and state’ thing.”

California Schools Investigate Antidrug Program With Scientology Links The Associated Press Jun 18, 2004 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The state schools superintendent has ordered an investigation into an anti-drug program with ties to the Church of Scientology. Narconon Drug Prevention and Education has been used by schools nationwide for the past two decades; it's used in at least 20 school districts in California, including San Francisco and Los Angeles. Though many teachers and students have praised the program, experts say some of Narconon's medical theories are irresponsible and have no basis in fact. For example, the program teaches that drugs...

<p>RICHMOND, Va. - Free-speech advocates warned Thursday they will file a federal lawsuit if officials at a public park block a baptism planned for this weekend in the Rappahannock River.</p> <p>Kent Willis, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia, said he has prepared a temporary restraining order against the park if officials try to interfere with an Episcopal pastor's plans to hold a baptism there on Sunday.</p>

Public baptism sparks controversy Wednesday, June 2, 2004 Posted: 8:31 AM EDT (1231 GMT) Pastor Todd Pyle baptizes Mark Maynard in the Rappahannock River at Falmouth Beach in Virginia. RICHMOND, Virginia (AP) -- The Rev. Todd Pyle thought it was the perfect spot to baptize 12 new members of his church. The river was calm and shallow, and there was a shaded area offshore for people to stand. "It was a very serene place," he said. "It was special." But officials at the Falmouth Waterfront Park, a public park just outside Fredericksburg, weren't pleased. They tried to break up the...

<p>An AT&T Broadband employee who was fired after refusing to abide by company rules that he said violated his religious beliefs about homosexuality has won a federal court case.</p> <p>Judge Marcia S. Krieger of the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado awarded Albert Buonanno of Denver $146,269 for lost salary, loss of 401(k) matching contributions and compensation for emotional distress in a Friday ruling released this week.</p>

Rutherford Institute Secures Victory For Religious Employee Fired By AT&T For Refusing To Sign Certificate Of Understanding About Homosexuality DENVER —In response to a lawsuit filed by Rutherford Institute attorneys, the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado has ruled in favor of a Denver man who was fired from his job with AT&T Broadband after he refused to sign off on portions of the company’s employee handbook that he felt violated his sincerely held religious beliefs. The ruling awards Albert Buonanno with back pay and lost 401(k) matching contributions arising out of AT&T’s refusal to accommodate his religious...

Diversity suit loss for cable titan Judge backs AT&T Broadband worker fired for refusal to value others' beliefs By Kris Hudson Denver Post Business Writer A federal judge has awarded a Denver-area man $146,269 after AT&T Broadband fired him in 2001 for refusing on religious grounds to sign the cable company's diversity policy. Albert A. Buonanno, 47, argued that Denver-based cable giant AT&T Broadband, since bought by Comcast Corp., could not require him to "value" the behavior and beliefs of others, notably homosexuals, if doing so violated his own Christian beliefs. In addition, Buonanno said he could tolerate religions contrary...

BRAVE NEW SCHOOLSStudent suspended for Marine Corps shirtFiles lawsuit against district claiming First Amendment violation Posted: March 2, 20041:00 a.m. Eastern © 2004 WorldNetDaily.com A high school student suspended for wearing a T-shirt with a machine gun and Marine Corps creed is suing the district over its dress-code policy. Nathan Griggs, 16, and his father, David, brought the suit in U.S. District Court against Fort Wayne Community Schools, claiming the shirt was protected by First Amendment free-speech rights, the Fort Wayne News Sentinel reported. Elmhurst High School Principal Laura Taliaferro ordered Griggs to not wear the shirt because it was "inappropriate for...

In January 2001, Buonanno, an employee of AT&T, was handed a new AT&T Broadband Employee Handbook and asked to sign an “Acknowledgment of Receipt and Certificate of Understanding.” The certificate stated, in part, “I agree to follow the policies, rules and regulations contained in the handbook and to abide by any revisions made to them in the future.” Upon reviewing the 84-page handbook, however, Buonanno — a Christian with biblically based beliefs regarding homosexuality — found several parts to which he could not in good conscience conform. On page 6, in the section titled “Diversity,” the handbook stated: “Each person...

It appears that we are witnessing a stealth enactment of the enormously unpopular "Patriot II" legislation that was first leaked several months ago. Perhaps the national outcry when a draft of the Patriot II act was leaked has led its supporters to enact it one piece at a time in secret. Whatever the case, this is outrageous and unacceptable. -- Congressman Ron Paul, R-Tex. To those who follow the workings of the American bureaucracy, one thing should be very clear: We the people have lost control of our government. Let me give you a stark example. Rarely does the President...

<p>Lower court decisions upholding a New Jersey school district's prohibition of gifts bearing religious messages is being appealed to the Supreme Court.</p> <p>The mother of a student barred from distributing to classmates pencils with the imprint "Jesus loves the little children" and religious-themed candy canes is appealing two judgments that said Daniel Walz's freedom of expression and religion were not violated.</p>

Albert A. Buonanno of Denver had worked at AT&T Broadband for two years. But in a 2001 reorganization, the company directed employees to sign a "certificate of understanding." The document said employees must "fully recognize, respect, and value the differences among all of us," including "sexual orientation." Buonanno, who attends a Baptist General Conference church, told his supervisor in a letter that he wouldn't discriminate against or harass homosexuals. But he also said he couldn't sign the statement because it contradicted the Bible. Buonanno's supervisor fired him the next day. The Rutherford Institute, a religious liberties organization based in Charlottesville,...

We are a religious people whose institutions presuppose a Supreme Being. We guarantee the freedom of worship as one chooses. - Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, Zorach v. Clauson (1952) On a sunny fall day in 1621, as the story goes, Gov. William Bradford declared a day of public thanksgiving for the tiny colony of settlers at Cape Cod. After a long, desperate winter that claimed almost half of the pilgrims’ original party, the rest struggled all summer to provide for their basic needs. Aided by friendly Native Americans who spoke English and knew how to live in the...

School officials in Muskogee say they're disappointed that the district is being sued for not allowing an eleven-year-old Muslim girl to wear a religious head scarf. The Rutherford Institute, a Virginia-based civil liberties group, filed the federal lawsuit Tuesday on behalf of the family of Nashala Hearn. The lawsuit alleges the school district violated the sixth-grader's rights to free speech and free exercise of religion. The lawsuit also asks that school officials revise their dress code to accommodate students' religious dress and to expunge the girl's two suspensions. School officials say the head covering violated their dress code that bars...

A civil liberties group says a Maryland public school system violated the rights of two students by denying them community service credit for participating in a religious program for Indian children. In its lawsuit, the Virginia-based Rutherford Institute says Montgomery County Public Schools violated the students' rights to religious freedom, free assembly and equal protection as guaranteed by the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Montgomery County schools require all students to complete 60 hours of community service before they graduate. Students who complete more than 200 hours receive a special award. According to the Rutherford Institute, two students - Joshua and...

A federal appeals court's ruling that a child may not give pencils bearing the inscription "Jesus [loves] the little children" to his classmates is "yet one more ludicrous example of the federal courts' attempt to help governments at every level to enforce a rigidly secular bias on our public spaces," said Southern Baptist church-state specialist Richard Land. The U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a federal judge's decision that a New Jersey school system acted constitutionally in prohibiting a 4-year-old student from distributing the pencils at a spring class party. A three-judge panel of the Third Circuit unanimously...

<p>Kindergartners and first-graders may not distribute to their classmates gifts that bear a religious message, according to a ruling by a federal appeals court.</p> <p>The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled in favor of a New Jersey elementary school in forbidding a boy from giving out pencils with the message "Jesus loves the little children" with a heart symbol substituted for the word love.</p>

Kindergartener's Suspension Appealed To Supreme Court Playground Gunplay Case Goes To High Court POSTED: 8:35 a.m. EDT September 19, 2003 SAYREVILLE, N.J. -- Lawyers representing the family of a boy suspended from kindergarten after a playground game involving make-believe guns have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to consider the case. The Rutherford Institute, a nonprofit group focused on First Amendment and religious freedom cases, announced the appeal on Thursday. According to The Rutherford Institute, four kindergarten boys at Wilson Elementary School were playing cops and robbers during recess in March 2000, using their fingers as guns. The boy represented by...

It appears the American Civil Liberties Union has a new target in its campaign to eradicate the nation of public displays of the Ten Commandments. This time it involves a judge in Arkansas.District Court Judge David Pake has had a framed copy of the Ten Commandments in his suburban Little Rock courtroom since 1994. According to Cybercast News, the 11-by-14-inch copy of the Decalogue hangs near the judge's bench, away from the area where most court participants sit.But suddenly, after almost ten years of the display being on Pake's wall, the Arkansas chapter of the ACLU has decided the display...

<p>When Patrick Cubbage won back his job as a military honor guard at a New Jersey cemetery after being fired last year for saying the words “God Bless,” he had renewed faith in his freedom of speech and religion, but that quickly changed.</p>

A matter of authority The Intelligencer PENNRIDGE SCHOOL DISTRICT officials did the pragmatic thing, if not the right thing, when they agreed to settle a federal lawsuit challenging the high school principal's right to review material prior to its distribution to students. The suit was brought by former student Joe Baker, who during his senior year attempted to distribute fliers in the school that questioned the district's teachings about the origins of life. Baker said the district failed to cover some theories, specifically creationism. Principal Tom Creeden, per district policy, insisted on approving the material before Baker started handing it...

Student Prayer Group Wins First Amendment Victory Allowed to Advertise National Day of Prayer By Jim Brown May 1, 2003 (AgapePress) - In a dramatic about-face, a Wisconsin public high school has allowed a student prayer group to advertise Thursday's National Day of Prayer observance. Richard Feutz, principal of Evansville High School, had denied a student prayer group access to the school's PA system and barred the Christian young people from using posters to advertise the prayer observance. The principal told high school junior Nicole Cauthorn and her friends that they could not advertise the event because their group was...

For years, the U.S. Postal Service has subscribed to the philosophy that “neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” But if snow, rain and heat don’t stop your mail from getting delivered, its supposed anti-Islamic (or overtly Christian or Jewish) content just might. According to “Operation Iraqi Freedom” mailing tips announced by the USPS on March 25, 2003, the following items are prohibited from being mailed to troops stationed in the Middle East: obscene articles (prints, paintings, cards, films, videotapes, etc.); any matter containing religious materials...

U.S. Bans Mailing of Bible Verses to Overseas Soldiers Compiled by Ted Olsen | posted 04/10/2003 Don't mail Christian materials to soldiers, says U.S. The post office in Lenoir, North Carolina, told Jack Moody that he couldn't mail Christian comic books and a book of Bible verses to his son, who is stationed as an Army National Guardsman in the Middle East. U.S. rules prohibit mailing "any matter containing religious materials contrary to Islamic faith," a postal clerk explained. This morning, the Rutherford Institute, a civil and religious liberties organization, is suing the U.S. Postmaster General over the rule. "At...

(CNSNews.com) - A letter to Attorney General John Ashcroft Monday from the House Judiciary Committee asked more than 125 questions about implementation of the USA PATRIOT Act by the Department of Justice, including queries about secret search warrants and detention of suspected terrorists. "As the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Committee on the Judiciary, it is our responsibility to conduct oversight of the Department of Justice's efforts to combat terrorism," wrote Reps. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), chairman of the committee, and John Conyers (D-Mich.), its ranking member, "which includes implementation of the USA PATRIOT Act ("Act") signed into law...

Group sues on behalf of child in paper Gun Incident Irvington case reopens zero tolerance debateWednesday, March 05, 2003 BY KEVIN C. DILWORTH AND REGINALD ROBERTS Star-Ledger Staff The Rutherford Institute, a Virginia-based civil liberties organization, is taking a second New Jersey school district to court for what it sees as overzealous school officials overstepping their bounds in handling student conduct. The institute filed a lawsuit against the Irvington Board of Education on behalf of one of two boys arrested nearly two years ago under the district's "zero tolerance" policy for playing with a paper gun. The suit, filed last...

Jefferson Area Libertarians in Virginia "rallied around the flag" for a local businessman who was dragged into court for flying a company flag. On February 22, about three dozen Libertarians and other activists held a demonstration of support for Tom Dulaney Slonaker, owner of an Arby's restaurant on Route 29 in Charlottesville. In freezing rain, participants waved miniature American flags "to show their support of Mr. Slonaker's constitutional rights," said J.A.L. member John Munchmeyer, who helped coordinate the event. In December, Slonaker was fined almost $4,000 by the Albemarle County government for flying an Arby's flag from his flagpole and...