Posted: 9/5/03
Student FISH club allowable
PHILADELPHIA (ABP)–A student Bible club was wrongly barred from meeting at a Pennsylvania high school, according to a federal appellate court.
The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals made the decision after Melissa Donovan, a senior at Punxsutawney Area High School, claimed the school district would not let her Bible study group, FISH, meet during an activity period after school began.
“FISH is a group that discusses current issues from a biblical perspective, and school officials denied the club equal access to meet on school premises during the activity period solely because of the club's religious nature,” Judge Ruggero Aldisert wrote.
The school district had argued that permitting the group to meet during the school day would amount to a government endorsement of religion.
Aldisert disagreed, noting the meetings were voluntary and did not involve teachers.
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