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FFRF victorious against religious California school board
The Freedom From Religion Foundation has won a judgment against a California school board for its blatantly religious meetings.
U.S. District Judge Jesus Bernal ruled against the Chino Valley Unified School District for overtly and consciously inserting religion into official proceedings. FFRF filed a lawsuit along with 22 local residents on Nov. 13, 2014, challenging the School Board's prayers, bible readings and proselytization at its official gatherings. At one typical meeting, Board President James Na "urged everyone who does not know Jesus Christ to go and find Him," after which another board member closed with a reading of Psalm 143.
On Thursday, Bernal issued his decision in favor of the state/church watchdog organization.
"The court finds ... permitting religious prayer in board meetings, and the policy and custom of reciting prayers, Bible readings, and proselytizing at board meetings, constitute unconstitutional government endorsements of religion in violation of plaintiffs' First Amendment rights," Bernal wrote. "Defendant board members are enjoined from conducting, permitting or otherwise endorsing school-sponsored prayer in board meetings."
The court ordered the School Board to pay court costs and plaintiff fees.
- See more at: http://ffrf.org/news/news-releases/item/25817-ffrf-victorious-against-religious-california-school-board#sthash.YCpsNwNx.dpuf
U.S. District Judge Jesus Bernal ruled against the Chino Valley Unified School District for overtly and consciously inserting religion into official proceedings. FFRF filed a lawsuit along with 22 local residents on Nov. 13, 2014, challenging the School Board's prayers, bible readings and proselytization at its official gatherings. At one typical meeting, Board President James Na "urged everyone who does not know Jesus Christ to go and find Him," after which another board member closed with a reading of Psalm 143.
On Thursday, Bernal issued his decision in favor of the state/church watchdog organization.
"The court finds ... permitting religious prayer in board meetings, and the policy and custom of reciting prayers, Bible readings, and proselytizing at board meetings, constitute unconstitutional government endorsements of religion in violation of plaintiffs' First Amendment rights," Bernal wrote. "Defendant board members are enjoined from conducting, permitting or otherwise endorsing school-sponsored prayer in board meetings."
The court ordered the School Board to pay court costs and plaintiff fees.
- See more at: http://ffrf.org/news/news-releases/item/25817-ffrf-victorious-against-religious-california-school-board#sthash.YCpsNwNx.dpuf
