Child Evangelism Fellowship v. Stafford Township School District
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled on Friday, October 15, 2004 that the Stafford Township School District may not refuse to distribute flyers announcing meetings of Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), a religious community group. The New Jersey school district had refused to distribute flyers publicizing CEF's "Good News Club" meetings because of the meetings’ religious content, despite its willingness to distribute informational flyers for numerous other community groups.
The Christian Legal Society’s Center for Law and Religious Freedom filed suit against the school district in September 2002, on behalf of CEF, primarily seeking equal treatment for CEF’s informational flyers. A federal district court in New Jersey found in favor of CEF, and the school district appealed the decision to the Third Circuit.
Documents & Links:
12.10.2002 - Court Stops School's Discrimination Against Religious Group: District Must Distribute Group's Flyers
District Court Opinion
Third Circuit Opinion
Press Release, October 18, 2004
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