CBN News - Fight to Keep Bible Studies in the Courthouse

October 6, 2007
CBNNews.com

In a city riddled with attacks against traditional values, Christians sued their employer, the Supreme Court of San Diego, for not allowing them to conduct their weekly Bible studies at work meeting places.

Despite being granted permission to have Bible studies at work in 2000, several Christian employees were denied access to their regular lunchtime meeting place in April 2006 after they were required to submit an application to continue.

A new policy was issued by the court making it a prerequisite for all organizations, groups and individuals to apply for permission to use court facilities.

Empty courtrooms or jury rooms were used by the Bible study group before it was contended that the meetings violated the "separation of church and state."

"The constitutional rights of these court employees cannot be ignored simply because they work for the state," said Jennifer Monk, legal counsel for Advocates For Faith and Freedom, a non-profit law firm protecting Americans' religious liberties in the courts. "This Bible study should be given access to court facilities in the same manner as other groups, regardless of the fact that they meet to study the Bible."

The law firm contends on behalf of Superior Court employees Dalia R. Smith and Mindy Barlow that their First Amendment rights of the freedom of speech and free exercise of religion were clearly violated when their application for continued access was denied.

If the suit is successful, the Federal District Court will rule the San Diego Superior Court's refusal to allow the lunchtime Bible studies unconstitutional, which would allow the employees to meet once again.

"It is not too surprising when government agencies misapply applicable constitutional principles, but this is the Superior Court of California - they should know better," asserted AFF General Counsel Robert Tyler.

The American Center for Law and Justice, a constitutional legal organization out of Virginia Beach, VA, is AFF's co-counsel in the case.

A similar incident took place this February in Missouri, when the ACLJ offered legal assistance to members of a voluntary Bible study comprised of lawyers, judges and other courthouse employees.

In response to the Bible studies, a formal complaint to county officials was rsubmitted against the Christian group by an attorney in St. Charles, claiming the officials were "forcing the taxpayers of the county of St. Charles to support these Christian gentlemen in their avocation and beliefs."

"This is clearly a case where the voluntary Bible study is protected by the First Amendment," commented ACLJ Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow. "Simply because someone disagrees with the Bible study does not mean the government has the authority to remove it."

Christian law firms have done much to uphold the rights of believers across the nation to freely worship the God of the Bible.