All the way back in 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court in Good News Club v. Milford Central School ruled 6-3 in favor of religious liberty. The court said that if a public school allowed student groups to meet on school property after class hours, they couldn't prevent another school group from doing so simply because the club is religious.
That decision over 20 years ago should have settled the question, but some public schools continue to discriminate against religious clubs whenever they think they can get away with it.
The latest example is in Hawaii, where state education officials have blocked the Good News Club in at least four local school districts. The Club is a project of the Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF).
CEF has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of the District of Hawaii. Representing them is Liberty Counsel founder and chairman Mat Staver, who is quoted in the Christian Post, saying: "The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that public schools cannot discriminate against Christian viewpoints regarding use of school facilities. Child Evangelism Fellowship gives children a biblically based education that includes moral and character development."
Our friend Mat Staver is correct. JDFI fully expects this case will be decided in favor of the Good News Club. But it is a reminder that we must be forever vigilant against the powerful forces in America that want to marginalize Christian influence.
