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"Bible clubs and other religious groups are due the same access as secular groups when it comes to space, fees and flyer distribution,"

Washington Reverses Discrimination against Christian Club



Leavenworth, WA - Cascades School District has reversed its unlawful decisions forbidding distribution of Christian club flyers and, later, only allowing flyers with an unconstitutional disclaimer.

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Cascades School District prohibited Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) Good News Club flyers under District Policy 4030P(f), prohibiting materials "Proselytizing or disparaging religious beliefs." Thus, flyers announcing secular community events or activities were distributed in the schools, while flyers deemed "religious" in nature were denied. With no information made available to parents, no children attended the CEFs Good News Club. When challenged on the policy, Superintendent Bill Motsenbocker said that he did not "believe the public schools in our country should be used to distribute materials or promote any religion." After Liberty Counsel educated the superintendent about the law, the school district's legal counsel advised him to change the policy and allow the distribution of the flyers, but only with an overly-broad, unconstitutional disclaimer: The district does not sponsor or endorse this event/information and the district assumes no responsibility for it. In consideration of the privilege to distribute materials, theCascade School District will be held harmless from any cause of action filed in any court or administrative tribunal arising out of the distribution of these materials, including costs, attorney's fees and judgments or awards. The District conceded after Liberty Counsel's final demand: "Government may not condition access to a public forum on being held harmless from baseless lawsuits by those offended by religious speech," said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. "It is the government's job to defend against bullies seeking to silence others. It can't outsource that to private speakers." "Bible clubs and other religious groups are due the same access as secular groups when it comes to space, fees and flyer distribution," Staver continued. "The First Amendment is very clear on protecting free speech and religious liberty, despite what the current White House and secular press would like you to believe."


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