Politics
Thursday November 19, 2009
NJ School Board Halts Student's Pro-Life Ministry as Too "Religious"
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By Kathleen Gilbert
CAMDEN, New Jersey, November 19, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A New Jersey student is suing the Bridgeton Board of Education after officials at Bridgeton High School prohibited her from expressing a religious viewpoint on the 6th annual Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity.
The lawsuit was filed in New Jersey's U.S. District Court Friday on the student's behalf by attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund, who had distributed a legal memo last month offering to legally defend students across the nation kept from participating in the event by school officials.
"Pro-life students shouldn't be discriminated against for expressing their beliefs," said ADF Senior Legal Counsel David Cortman.
"The Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity is a non-disruptive, student-led event occurring outside of instructional time. The event provides the opportunity for students to exercise their constitutional right to express their viewpoint on abortion, just as other students have the right to express their views."
The student was prohibited from participating in the Stand True Ministries-sponsored event by distributing pro-life literature during non-instructional times and wearing a red arm band with the word "LIFE" written on it.
According to ADF, school officials told the student that nothing "religious" is allowed in public schools.
"Cumberland County has the highest rate of teen pregnancies in the state of New Jersey, yet Bridgeton High School censors students' pro-life speech opposing abortion," commented Cortman. "Government-run schools say that students need to be educated on these issues, but many times they only want to allow one side to be presented."
Michael W. Kiernan of Marlton is serving as local counsel in the lawsuit, C.H. v. Bridgeton Board of Education.
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