Radio Recap: Defending the Bible in Public Schools

It’s important to never forget where we started, or why. The ACLJ was founded to defend our constitutional rights and religious liberty.

On today’s show, we discussed what I like to call a couple of “old school” ACLJ cases, including a win for religious liberty in school.

I used to say that public schools treat religion like it’s asbestos in the ceiling tiles. Unfortunately that analogy still applies.

As we posted on ACLJ.org, a 4th grade student was regularly bringing his Bible to school and reading it at recess. That is until a teacher admonished him for bringing the Bible and physically confiscated it. The school’s Principal told the child he cannot bring the Bible to school, and he is not allowed to discuss the Bible or Jesus with other students.

This is unacceptable. Students do not surrender their religious rights when they get to school. We sent a letter to the school board stating what Federal law has to say about this matter, and what the school is required to do. The school board has responded to our letter assuring us that the child can bring his Bible going forward, and continue to read, and speak freely, as he chooses. 

It’s hard to believe that more than 3 decades after we started defending religious liberties in schools, that children are still having Bibles taken away.

We’ve been contacted regarding two similar situations that we are prepared to take action in where children have been told not to talk about Jesus.

Meanwhile, the ACLJ is engaged in 15 situations regarding the “mindfulness” curriculum in schools, teaching Buddhist-based meditation in class. Schools are claiming this is not religious teaching, however they are closely following Buddhist tenants. Parents should not have to worry about their kids being taught confusing religious philosophies. If a public school were to teach the Bible or Christian prayer, there would be outrage.

In one such mindfulness case we got involved in, representing a rightfully concerned parent in Missouri, the school agreed never to include it in the curriculum again.

We also gave you an update on a number of events happening in Washington, including the push to get President Trump’s judicial nominations confirmed by the Senate. Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell deployed what is being called the “nuclear option” to limit the amount of debate time, wasting floor time, to get to a confirmation vote on lower court judges.

And we reported that House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R., La.) filed a discharge petition to override Speaker Pelosi and force her to bring the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act to the House floor. The bill would require that doctors provide medical care to babies born alive in failed abortion procedures. A similar bill in the Senate was recently blocked by pro-abortion Democrats.

It’s time for these Representatives to stop dodging the truth and go on record as to where they really stand on the subject of infanticide.

You can listen to the entire episode here.