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October 19, 2012
Texas Cheerleaders Win Temporary Victory In Bible-Verse Banners Case
(Updated) State judge: No law "prohibits cheerleaders from using religious-themed banners at school sporting events."
Update (May 8, 2013): A Texas state judge has determined that religiously themed banners displayed by cheerleaders at Kountze High School in Texas are constitutionally permissible. According to the Associated Press, "In a copy of the ruling obtained by Beaumont station KFDM, [judge Steve] Thomas determined that no law 'prohibits cheerleaders from using religious-themed banners at school sporting events.'"
The lawsuit, which became a high-profile case last fall, was scheduled to go to trial later this summer, but this summary judgment ends the case.
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When Kountze High School in Texas banned cheerleaders from using Bible verses on their banners, the ban sparked a national debate about students' freedom of religion and free speech rights. For now, though, cheerleaders will be free to wave their banners, according to a ruling by Hardin County District Judge Steve Thomas.
Yesterday, Thomas extended a temporary injunction against the school district's ban on religiously themed banners, saying that the ban appeared to violate the cheerleaders' free speech rights.
The cheerleaders decided to make banners featuring Bible verses, including Phil 4:13 and Romans 8:31, to display at football games earlier this season. However, a complaint from the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, an atheist group, led Kountze superintendent Kevin Weldon to ban the banners on Sept. 18.
Thomas previously had granted a temporary injunction, and this ruling extends the injunction to allows the students to display Bible verses on their banners at sporting events through the rest of the school year. The lawsuit against them is expected to go to trial on June 24, 2013, said Texas attorney general Greg Abbott.
Abbott and Texas Governor Rick Perry petitioned in favor of the cheerleaders earlier this week.
"We will not allow atheist groups from outside of the state of Texas to come into the state to use menacing and misleading intimidation tactics to try to bully schools to bow down at the altar of secular beliefs," Abbott said Wednesday.
Abbott also applauded the ruling in a press release Thursday.
However, according to The New York Times, Martin B. Cominsky, director of the Anti-Defamation League’s southwest office, Thomas's ruling was "misguided," because the banners appear to be a "school-sponsored religious message."
CT previously reported the original injunction against the ban on Sept. 21. In 2000, the magazine editorialized on a similar case in Texas as the Supreme Court debated whether student prayers over the loudspeaker before football games violate the constitutional ban on the establishment of religion. (The court decided that they do.)
Comments
Sometimes I wonder if Bible verses are being misused in public. At the same time, the Bible states that God's Word will not return void.
Posted By: Les | October 22, 2012 3:05 PM
Freedom of Religion is what is stated in the US Constitution. A case could be made for atheism as a belief system followed religiously by its adherents is on the same playing field as any other recognized (persecuted) religion. 'Freedom from Religion' needs to get a grip.
Posted By: Lee Thornton | October 22, 2012 9:28 PM
Wasn't it right wing Christian groups who said they wouldn't allow outside atheist groups to come into their state (in this case Mississippi) and promote voting by blacks? What's the difference between that and Perry's statements? This is plainly a violation of religious freedom and the school cheerleaders have no right to force their views on others.
Having lived in Texas for several years, though, it IS very Texan. Conformist, oppressive, 'me too' sheep like behavior on religion.
Posted By: bpuharic | October 23, 2012 6:58 AM
I support the right of the teenagers to display the banners, but is it right? It seems to trivilize the versus. When Paul wrote Philippians 4:13, he was not talking about winning a football game.
Posted By: Shea | October 26, 2012 9:26 PM
If they had wanted to put up banners quoting the Q'ran, would we still be appluatding the decision?
Posted By: Teresa Benson | October 31, 2012 8:38 PM
WHY would you PRAY for a FOOTBALL GAME? They're obviously just brainwashed thinking that anything that they 'Hope to gOD" for will be given to them. I'm a "godless heathen" but my life is perfect, I get what I need by means of my own doing and I'm actually nicer than any christian I've ever met. Texas is an extremely religious state and just as small towns in the early 1900's unless someone from another area came in to educate them about the world they would remain ignorant. I mean 'ignorant' in the most literal sense, how else can a population of about 40% countrywide NOT be so offended by priest sex abuse on children that they would if not throw their religion away but immediately step to and demand justice, whether by govt or vigilante justice. If I knew a priest by sight, found him to be molesting children, not even his god would be able to find him when Im done.
Posted By: Maria indiana | January 27, 2013 1:20 PM
Good read. Although I don't know if they chose the best outlet for their message. God is love!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11
Posted By: Andy | May 4, 2013 2:53 PM
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