Supreme Court Won't Touch Bible Club Case

(CBS/AP)  The Supreme Court on Monday declined to stop a school district from blocking a group of Christian students from forming a Bible club on campus.

The court refused to hear an appeal from the high school students who wanted to form the Truth Bible Club at Kentridge High School in Washington state in 2001.

The school refused to let the group be chartered as a school club. They cited the group's name, the fact that students would have to pledge to Jesus Christ to vote in the club and that allowing the club in would bring religion into the school. The club's would-be founders then sued the Kent School District, claiming discrimination.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the district did not violate the students' First Amendment rights by requiring them to allow all students full membership in their club.

The case is Truth v. Kent School District, 08-1130, and Kent School District v. Truth, 08-1268.

Separately:

The Court ruled Monday that white firefighters in New Haven, Conn., were unfairly denied promotions because of their race, reversing a decision that high court nominee Sonia Sotomayor endorsed as an appeals court judge.

The Court refused to allow victims of the Sept. 11 attacks to pursue lawsuits against Saudi Arabia and four of its princes over charitable donations that were allegedly funneled to al-Qaida.

The Court failed to decide on whether a scathing documentary about Hillary Rodham Clinton that was shown during the presidential race should be regulated as if it were a campaign ad.

More Supreme Court coverage:

Court Rules For Firefighters In Ricci Case
Sotomayor Overturned In Firefighters Case
Tie Goes to Kennedy In Ricci Case
Supreme Court To Take NFL Apparel Case
Supreme Court Won't Touch Bible Club Case
Court Passes On 9/11 Claims Against Saudis
Court Delays Ruling On Anti-Clinton Movie
Supreme Court Hands DVR Win To Cable Cos.

[psk123-2009]

What was wrong with a church hosting this religious group? Isn't that where religion belongs? In a church?

I agree with this decision. Religion has no place in a public school.

[Scimajor]

They made the correct choice. How could a school allow a club to discriminate against other students based on religious beliefs (or anything else for that matter)? They can't.

Allowing this kind of club would be as idiotic as my something my sister-in-law encountered. Her daughter is Mormon but her mother was not allow to attend the ceremony because she, the mother, is not Mormon. Nice religion you guys have there.

Discrimination should be and, already is, illegal. So why is this kind of thing being allowed?

Oh but then we have Affirmative Action, legalized discrimination, which is allowed also. Hold on, so discrimination IS allowed but only in the name of religion and you can also be discriminated against as long as you are not a "minority" (see affirmative action).

Sigh. Ok, so discrimination is OK when it's politically correct? Is that the deal?

[soconcerened]

So we should allow kids to be on the football team even if they are not athletic? Or allow

People join clubs because they are likeminded with others. I can't imagine that anyone would want to join that was a non-believer. We have the FCA and FCS at the schools in my town and I am so happy that we still have that choice here. I realize that I am a miortity in this and that is okay. At least my 14 year old is wanting to go on mission trips to Africa and buid houses for children that have suffered through genocide rather than wanting to fill selfish needs.

Mormons have a completely seperate book, they do not study the same Bilbe that Methodists, Baptists or Penecostals do. That is a man made rule, not God made. Jesus never turned his back on anyone.

[formrusmcsgt]

Public schools are not dogma centers - churches are.

[ianlou]

Bible Club?
Is this an Oximoron?

[woeisme1]

It's ironic, to put it mildly, that the gay marriage activists want protection under equal rights but they don't want equal protection for a harmless religious group.

This group in this story is being denied their equal rights. I do not agree with the decision at all.

Some of you are so hypocritical. It's okay when it suits your wants but nobody elses.

[dartplayer501]

It's not ironic at all.

Firstly, the US constitution is clear on the National religion idea; the founding fathers did not want one, because the fact that Great Britain did have a state religion is why their ancestors left England in the first place. Allowing school prayer and religious "clubs" on state school, hence government, property is, therefore unconstitutional.

Secondly; gay marriage supporters are not trying to stop you (Christians) from doing anything. They're quite OK with you having your beliefs. The "bigotry" claim arises becaus you ARE stopping them from doing something that they feel is their right. Nobody has EVER explained to me why allowing gays to get married undercuts anyone else's rights. If gay marriage undercuts basic "Christian" tenets, then divorce certainly does also. Here, I guess R.C.'s are more consistent than other branches of Christianity as they ban both.

[johndevinejr]

by glasshugh June 30, 2009 4:50 AM PDT
Thank you cs4466... Perfect example I leave you alone and let you believe what you want to believe. But if I want to believe in God you call us craven cowards. I guess you are just as hypocritical as you claim the "Religious Reich" are. Good way to prove your point!


Chistians don't leave anyone alone. Christians are constantly trying to impose their beliefs on everyone by teaching creationism in school, by constantly attempting to allow prayer in school, interestingly enough, that prayer is ALWAYS Christian prayer, never another religion.

When Christian beliefs are disagreed with, that is called "attacking Christianity".
The Constitution is clear. There is NEVER a reason for the government to be involved in religion. And public schools are run by the local government.

[woeisme1]

Yet when Christians disagree with gay marriage, you call them bigots.

[glasshugh]

If you think Christians are constantly trying to impose their beliefs on everyone..you should go to a muslim country and see what happens when you mock their God.

[johndevinejr]

by cs4466 June 29, 2009 10:04 AM PDT
"If any group (regardless of its purpose or membership requirements) has access to school property, for activities not associated with academics or athletics, then all groups should have the same access. One obvious exception with be groups formed with the expressed purpose of harming others."

I would think many people would agree that Religion falls into the category of the "expressed purpose of harming others".


Ha Ha

I agree

[lambor59]

Let's ban all religions and be peace around the world.

[lambor59]

Let's ban all religions and be peace around the world.

[cs4466]

"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." --Susan B. Anthony