Catholics for Freedom of Religion
School Says “No” to Interfaith Prayer Club a Week after Approving a Pride Club
A student in Creekside Elementary School, WA, asked her principal if she could start an after-school interfaith prayer group so she and her religious friends would feel comfortable and safe praying and doing community service together.
The principal replied that all clubs had started earlier in the year so there was no funding for another club and the girl and her friends would have to pay to use space in the school like other outside groups. Meanwhile, one week earlier, the school had approved a new Pride Club.
Based on 1st Amendment rights of free speech and free exercise of religion many such denials have been invalidated by courts so that a law firm representing a case like this usually needs to go no further than to write a letter listing the freedoms the school has denied and citing other such cases settled in favor of the student.
Situations like this could be avoided, and religious clubs quickly approved if we Americans were familiar with the basics of our religious freedoms including students’ rights to live their faith in many ways in public schools. Our children deciding to bring their faith to school should not have to struggle for the religious freedom already won for them by our Founding Fathers.
The US Department of Education explains students’ rights to religious expression in public schools at the link below. Also, at www.cffor.org there is a short video and a pamphlet on “Students of Faith” which cover much of the guidelines.
Thank God as well as the faithful parents of these children that we have students eager to live their faith in school. May they thrive in their love of God and serve as examples of hope and faith for some of our young Americans whom studies show feel isolated and hopeless.
Read more here:
School Says ‘NO’ to Student’s Prayer Club, But Allows Many Other Clubs
Elementary School Denies Prayer Club, Welcomes Pride Club
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14
