homeEntertainment

Elementary school Bible club closed down in California following atheists' complaint

Jardine Malado September 04, 2016 11:22 PM EST

A Bible Club at the Mariposa Elementary School in California has been disbanded after a complaint from an atheist group. A concerned parent consulted with the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), claiming to fear that their son might be pressured to participate in the club's activities.

In its letter to the Brea Olinda Unified School District, the FRFF complained about the school's promotion of the Bible club known as Club Monarch.

A Bible club has been discontinued after complaints from the FRFF | Pixabay/condesign

"If a school chooses to allow outside groups to host after school programs on its property and an outside group decides to create a religious program, there must be no school involvement in the organization or promotion of that religious program," the FFRF stated.

"That means that the district cannot promote Club Monarch on its website, its school walls, to parents at back-to-school night, and cannot coordinate sign-ups for the club in the school office," it continued.

The FRFF wrote a follow-up letter after it discovered that the school sent registration forms for parents. The FRFF also found out that Brea Olinda Unified School District's superintendent, Brad Mason, spoke to the club.

On Aug. 26, district lawyers announced that the Bible club has been discontinued.

The FFRF also prevented a Baptist youth minister from preaching at Harrisburg Middle School school in Illinois. The minister was reportedly meeting with students during lunch breaks and gave them food.

The FFRF sent a letter to the Harrisburg School District in February complaining that the minister's method was "predatory" and "inappropriate."

"This practice demonstrates an unlawful preference not only for religion over non-religion, but also Christianity over all other faiths," the FRFF argued. "Public schools have a constitutional obligation to remain neutral toward religion," it added.

The group followed-up with the school in June. On Aug. 24, the FRFF was informed that the minister is no longer allowed within the school premises.

Latest News

Sight & Sound’s ‘David’ showcases a king's sincere heart to pursue God

LANCASTER, Pa. — Four years in the making, the production “David” opened at Sight & Sound Theatres this year and explores the journey of an unassuming shepherd boy who became a king.

Presbyterian Church in America votes to leave National Association of Evangelicals

The Presbyterian Church in America has voted to leave the National Association of Evangelicals due to the ...

Secular intolerance of Christians' views is leading to self-censorship, report warns

Secular intolerance has a “chilling effect” on Christians who are having to practice “various forms of self-censorship” as they're finding it difficult to express their faith freely in society, according to a new report detailing accounts from four countries.

Over 50 killed in 'vile and satanic' attack at Nigerian church on Pentecost Sunday

Gunmen suspected to be Islamic Fulani herdsmen barged into a Catholic Church in southwestern Nigeria, opened fire and detonated explosives while the congregation was celebrating Mass on Pentecost Sunday, killing at least 50 worshipers, including women and children. It's feared that some Christians were also abducted after the attack.

Leah Sharibu held captive over 1,500 days in Nigeria, but family advocates haven't lost hope

For more than 1,500 days, Nigerian Christian teenager Leah Sharibu has been held captive by the Boko Haram terrorist group as Christians continue to be the target of attacks in the West African nation.