The Freedom From Religion Foundation has recently obtained three notable victories in its efforts to chase coercive religion out of our secular institutions.
Stopping middle-school recruitment in Oklahoma without parental approval. After a parent informed FFRF that Pansy Kidd Middle School, part of the Poteau Public Schools system in Oklahoma, was permitting a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) club to operate and recruit students in the morning during school drop-off hours, FFRF took action. Specifically, the parent reported that their student attended the club without their knowledge or consent during morning drop-off hours, when parents were told students were under school supervision while waiting for classes to start. The parent only learned of the practice when the student came home with a bible. Students were led in prayer and other religious activities.
When the concerned parent contacted the school, the school reportedly stated that it was not required for students to produce permission slips to attend the Fellowship of Christian Athletes gatherings or to notify parents about its meetings, even though the school was allowing the group to lure, interact with, and distribute food and religious literature to students on school grounds. The parent reported that, although they identify as Christian, there are differences among denominations, and they didn’t know which devotionals were being held, which churches were involved, or what was being taught to their child. They felt their parental rights were being violated.
FFRF agreed and took action. “Pansy Kidd Middle School’s practice of giving the FCA preferential treatment and allowing the FCA’s religious representatives unique access to its students to promote Christianity signals clear unconstitutional favoritism for religion over nonreligion, and Christianity over all other faiths,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent Scott Kempenich.
FFRF’s legal complaint letter resulted in the district promising to make adjustments, such as ensuring that any religious meetings held before school are led by students and that parental permission is obtained for participation.
FFRF keeps Ga. school staff free from religion at mandatory events. FFRF has made certain that employees in the Dalton Public Schools system in Georgia will not be forced to attend a Christian church for a mandatory staff event.
A concerned community member reported that in late July, the district held a training event for the entire staff inside a church. FFRF was told that the following day, at the annual staff convocation event held in the Dalton High School gym, a speaker delivered a prayer to the audience as part of opening remarks.
“DPS employs a diverse body of staff, including those who are nonreligious and members of minority faiths, as well as Christians who simply do not believe in public prayer,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote to the district’s attorney.
In response, the official counsel assured FFRF that the district was taking steps after both violations to avoid an appearance of preferential treatment toward Christianity. FFRF was informed that the superintendent has met with the principal, and that future mandatory gatherings will take place at the high school gym. Additionally, a moment of silence will replace a prayer at future staff convocation events.
Texas city parks and recreation department affirms secular nature of pickleball league. A concerned resident in Georgetown, Texas, reported that the Georgetown Parks & Recreation official Facebook page posted about a “church pickleball league” in late August. The post read, “Calling all churches — join us for fun, fellowship and friendly competition on the pickleball court! Open to beginner and advanced beginner players, this new league is a great way for local churches to connect while enjoying pickleball.” FFRF’s complainant, who is not a member of a church, reported feeling excluded and concerned about a city-sponsored church event..
FFRF stepped in to ensure that the club was not an exclusive benefit for religious residents. “This discrimination on the basis of religion unnecessarily marginalizes those residents who are among the 37 percent of Americans who are non-Christians, including the nearly one-in-three adult Americans (28 percent) who are religiously unaffiliated,” FFRF Patrick O’Reiley Legal Fellow Charlotte R. Gude wrote.
The director of the Georgetown Parks and Recreation department assured FFRF that the league had no preferential treatment for religious organizations. “I am writing to inform you that while the name indicated religious affiliation, no residents would have been/were excluded from playing based on religious affiliation or nonaffiliation,” Director Kimberly Garrett responded. Garrett also confirmed that the league’s name was changed to remove the religious reference.
“These types of religious intrusions are unfortunately all-too-common,” notes FFRF Co-President Dan Barker. “Creating a city-sponsored event advertised only to church-goers left us with a very sour taste. We are pleased the recreation department recognized the problem by deleting the religious title, and clarifying officially that all are welcome to its pickle ball league.”
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and educating the public on matters of nontheism. With over 41,000 members in all 50 states, including more than 1,800 members in Texas and hundreds of members in Oklahoma and Georgia, FFRF advocates for freethinkers’ rights. For more information, visit ffrf.org.
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