FEDERAL COURT STOPS SCHOOL
DISTRICT’S DISCRIMINATION AGAINST RELIGIOUS GROUP’S MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS
RICHMOND, VA. - The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth
Circuit yesterday ruled that the public schools in Montgomery County, Maryland may not refuse to distribute fliers for
meetings of Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), a religious community group. The district had been discriminating against
CEF's "Good News Clubs" because of their religious content while distributing informational fliers for numerous other
community groups.
Child Evangelism Fellowship of Maryland v. Montgomery County Public Schools arose when a CEF volunteer asked school
officials that informational fliers be distributed at two elementary schools so that parents could make an informed decision
whether they wanted their children to attend CEF’s after-school meetings. CEF is a respected national organization that has
offered after-school clubs for children for over 60 years. At the weekly meetings, children listen to a Bible story, learn
a Bible verse, sing, play games, and have a snack. No child may attend without parental permission.
The school district refused to distribute the fliers, despite the fact that it regularly distributes informational fliers
for a large number of community organizations covering a diverse range of interests, including sports groups, Boy and Girl
Scouts, performing arts groups, child care groups, health groups, and environmental groups.
Christian Legal Society’s Center for Law and Religious Freedom filed suit against the school district in January 2003 on
behalf of CEF, seeking equal treatment of CEF’s informational fliers. A federal district court in Maryland declined to
order equal treatment of CEF, and CEF appealed.
The Court of Appeals ruled yesterday that Supreme Court precedent requires equal treatment of CEF. The appeals court
sent the case back to the district court for further proceedings.
“The Fourth Circuit’s decision affirms the public schools’ important responsibility to respect the diverse religious
viewpoints of the community they serve, including citizens’ right of equal access for religious speech,” stated Gregory S.
Baylor, Director of the Center for Law and Religious Freedom and co-counsel for CEF.
Christian Legal Society, a 42 year-old nationwide association of Christian attorneys, law students, law
professors, and judges, established the Center for Law and Religious Freedom in 1975. The Center is among the most
respected voices in the religious liberty arena.
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