ACLU fails to silence religious expression in Wilson County schools

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A court order issued Thursday fell short of granting the American Civil Liberties Union what it was seeking in its lawsuit against the Wilson County School System, according to attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund.

“This is a win for religious freedom and, if not a total loss for the ACLU, certainly a hollow, shallow victory.  The court acknowledged that Christians cannot be discriminated against for their beliefs and that personal prayer, mentions of God, and Christmas references are constitutionally appropriate in school,” said ADF Senior Counsel Nate Kellum.  “The ACLU hoped to wipe out every reference to God but walked away with a take-nothing judgment.  ADF and its clients were successful in repelling the ACLU’s attacks.”

The court allowed four parents represented by ADF attorneys to intervene as defendants in the case in April 2007.  The court order Thursday refused to grant the ACLU’s request to stop each of the following at Wilson County schools:

• The playing of a song with a religious reference in honor of a three-year-old cancer victim
• “See You at the Pole” student prayer event
• National Day of Prayer observances
• Meetings on campus by the group Praying Parents
• Christmas and Thanksgiving observances with religious reference  

“All of these things will remain constitutionally permissible at the school,” Kellum said.  “The order specifically states that these types of activities may continue.”

The original request for relief filed by ACLU attorneys shows what the ACLU was asking the court to stop at Wilson County Schools.

ADF is a legal alliance of Christian attorneys and like-minded organizations defending the right of people to freely live out their faith.  Launched in 1994, ADF employs a unique combination of strategy, training, funding, and litigation to protect and preserve religious liberty, the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family.