Collier County denies Bible distribution on Religious Freedom Day

Jan 15, 2009
JONI B. HANNIGAN
Managing Editor

NAPLES (FBW)-Collier County School District has refused this year to allow the distribution of Bibles in its schools on Religious Freedom Day, Jan. 16, according to Orlando-based Liberty Counsel.

The past two years, World Changers of Florida had been allowed to offer free Bibles from tables during non-instructional time, Mathew D. Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel and dean of Liberty University School of Law, told Florida Baptist Witness. This year, the district superintendent, Dennis Thompson, through the district's attorney, John Fishbane, said because the materials were "religious" it would be unconstitutional and a violation of the separation of church and state to allow the practice to proceed.

Liberty Counsel has sent a demand letter asking for a reversal of the decision to the district on behalf of Jerry Rutherford, president of World Changers of Florida. On Nov. 10, 2008, Rutherford submitted a request for Religious Freedom Day, but didn't hear back from the district until Jan. 7, 2009, Staver said.

“They did not account for the delay in time in answering the request," Staver said. "They had allowed that before and there was no reason for World Changers to think that they would deny it."

Noting the symbolic importance of the Bible in highlighting religious freedom, Staver said it's disappointing when schools take such actions.

“The Bible has influenced public education more than any other book in the world. Congress passed the Northwest Ordinance as one of its early legislative acts to encourage public schools to teach religion and morality,” Staver said. “Many state constitutions to this day continue to encourage the teaching of religion in public schools. It is a sad day when the Bible is treated like contraband where it was once central to our education. Our educators have much to learn about liberty.”

While the Collier County situation is an example of an organization seeking counsel, Staver said "progress" has been made to help educate people about religious discrimination.

"As soon as you fix it on the left hand, you have to go fix it on the right hand," Staver cautioned, in matters of helping people to understand what the boundaries are. "You have to be vigilant."

Staver said because of personnel changes and the need for the constant education of people regarding First Amendment rights and religious liberty, "you are never at the point that you can sit back and assume everything is going smoothly."

A good thing, Staver said, is that people are becoming more "active" in sharing their faith and when they are told they are not allowed to--they don't want to just walk away.

And in that case, whether they are in front of an abortion clinic, at a public park, or in a school, the purpose is to "share the Gospel" first and foremost--and so getting belligerent is not a choice.

"You can't win the battle and lose that war," Staver said. "You've got to remember why you are doing what you are doing."

Staver recommended people should try and educate others first about religious freedom and the law, and then if that doesn't resolve an issue, ask Liberty Counsel to become involved by writing a letter or making a phone call--or even through civil litigation.

"Even the Apostle Paul did that," Staver said. "Use due process of law."

Religious Freedom Day was proclaimed Sept. 16, 1994, by President Bill Clinton, who also declared the commemoration in 1996 and 1999--citing, in part, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993. President George W. Bush has continued the day since 2002.

For information on Liberty Counsel, go to www.lc.org and for information on Religious Freedom Day, go to www.religiousfreedomday.com.

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