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Students Sue High School That Banned Christian Club

May. 6, 2011 7:01am Emily Esfahani Smith

Students at New York’s Hicksville High School were prevented from starting a Christian club by the school principal who allegedly said, “I don’t want any of these Christian clubs at my school.”

Via Fox Nation:

A federal lawsuit has been filed on behalf of a group of Christian high school students in New York who said their principal banned them from starting a Christian club.

“The principal said, ‘I don’t want any of these Christian clubs at my school,’” said David Cortman, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, a conservative advocacy legal group. The ADF filed the lawsuit Monday against the Hicksville Union Free School District in Central Islip, NY.

“Public schools cannot ban Christian student clubs simply because they are religious,” Cortman said. “If officials at government-run schools did their homework, they’d know that students have a constitutionally protected right to express their beliefs.”

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Comments (157)

kickagrandma
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:18am
To those who think it’s “ok” / fair to have a transgender, “gay”/lesbian club in high school, I have this information for you.

AMERICA is a CHRISTIAN nation. We follow GOD ALMIGHTY, MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH. HE tells us that homosexual behavior is an abomination to HIM. HE tells HIS kids to stay far away from that sort of behavior as it is a perversion to HIS plan for us.

By being GOD loving and GOD fearing (respecting) people, we cannot allow what HE hates in our lives, in our schools, in our society. We have, and that is why we are in the mess we are in.

If we follow HIM, there is room for HIM and none other.

Perversion is a demeaning god. It destroys all who embrace it.

It is time to call it what it is and to uncover the lie that it is “ok”. It is not. Not now. Not ever.

CHRISTIANS are standing up for the GOD we serve and follow. HE will do a mighty work because HIS kids are no longer denying HIM, the love of our lives and our entire reason for being.

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- Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:31am
  America may have been founded on Judeo-Christian VALUES, but it was not founded on any specific RELIGION. Your practice of religion in no way impugns anyone else’s rights. Rights are one of the few things that if you want to enjoy them yourselves, you have to give them to others too.
  
  Report this comment
- Wes
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 3:12pm
  Thank you so much!! People like you make my day so much better!! Freedom of religion should be practiced in public schools- if someone wants to start a Christian Club, they should be allowed. If a principal doesn’t let them do that because he doesn’t “want any of [those] Christian clubs” at his school, he is basically violating their freedom of religion. Things like this just make me want to hurl.
  
  Report this comment
christos
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:17am
Our Country was founded on Judeo+Christian values,suggestion Mr. principle—you find another Country that better serves your ideals,as for the name of you school it is fitting for your attitude,might add your attitude will be the least of your worries on Judgement,of day unless you change course,leave the kids alone,& quit hindering them you should be encouraging,them,& attending yourself.Bless You

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hobbitfellow
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:13am
The club should get Jay Sekulow and the ACLJ on board; they argue religious liberty cases, including several before the Supreme Court, and they rarely lose. I know they’ve argued cases like this one before with great success. This principal has no legal grounds upon which to stand.

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capitalismrocks
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:13am
Excellent, this is just the kind of thing ALL Christians need to do more and more, turn the tables…. how many lawsuits have bankrupted Christian churches and schools into closure, turn the tide and reverse their tactics and do it back against them…. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” Teach your kids well, everyone sit down with your children and explain to them during a casual conversation that they may one day here something about Separation of Church and State. Explain that there is no such law, but there is the law above and it protects you and your children from any government agency from blocking or prohibiting your free exercise of religion, this goes for Christian clubs in school, to Christmas tree’s in a town square to having a moment of silence in school or even to sing outloud “God Bless America” — No one in government can stop you…. these are your rights, fight for them with every fiber of your soul…

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Darla_K
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:11am
I wonder what club this principal belongs to. Good luck with the Christian Club high schoolers. :)

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- snidley-whiplash
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 12:03pm
  This is what we can do…………….http://www.hicksvillepublicschools.org/schools/hs.html
  
  Report this comment
NC
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:01am
some more info @ http://www.onenewsnow.com/Legal/Default.aspx?id=1340948

…”But according to the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), the Christian legal alliance representing the students, the principal would not allow any religious clubs to be recognized, despite the fact that 12 other schools in the county already had Christian clubs.

After receiving further pressure, the principal finally admitted that the real reason was limited finances. But ADF attorney David Cortman does not buy that excuse.

David Cortman (Alliance Defense Fund)”It’s simply ridiculous in this case that Hicksville High School says it has no budget for a Christian club but somehow has enough to pay for 35 clubs, including a ping pong club,” he notes….”

NC (doing a Glenn Beck and my own research)

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- Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:07am
  Obligations under the law do not know from financial need. Even if the school plead poverty, they would still be legally obligated to allow the club to form and meet on campus.
  
  Report this comment
- capitalismrocks
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:16am
  He doesn’t have a choice, as a public (aka government) school, he has to abide by the first amendment “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”
  
  He cannot bar the free exercise thereof….
  
  Report this comment
Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:58am
*facepalm*

When will principals ever learn?

But, you know, simply refusing to allow a club to form is ALMOST as bad as disbanding clubs to prevent a club from having equal access to school facilities.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/02/28/951100/-Texas-School-District-Bans-Christian-Club-to-Stop-%E2%80%9CGay-Club%E2%80%9D

The principal of the Flour Bluff Independent School District in Corpus Christi, TX banned all non-curricular clubs at the district’s high school, including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, earlier this year to prevent the school from having to approve a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), to be called the Tolerance Club, as they would be required to under the Equal Access Act.

How’s that for a kick in the crotch? It doesn’t feel good when it happens to your own, but I’m sure plenty here have no problem with banning GSAs as long as it doesn’t catch up Christian clubs in the collateral damage.

Needless to say, if the Hicksville *snicker* High School allows any other non-curricular clubs at all on campus, the Christian Club is guaranteed access under the Equal Access Act, just like the Tolerance Club is guaranteed access to the Flour Bluff High School. But I see no reason to believe that the principal’s name, being Hindi in origin, should be evidence of motive here.

Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere.

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- teachermitch32
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 11:15am
  The principal’s name was Brijinder Singh. He is most likely, although I am not sure, Sikh in his faith. Either way, it is most likely a religious prejudiced decision on his part.
  
  Report this comment
- MacWell
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 12:08pm
  Ok LPHP, we get it, you’re gay, all I can say is, So what? Look my friend, personally? I don’t care who or what you consider “life partner’ material, but, who or whatever you choose, I fully support your right to that choice. I don’t think many people here really care who you share your life with, that’s your decision. If you care to have a conversation about the effect of your (cause), so-called equal rights, then fine.
  My questions to you are,
  # 1 “why do you think your chosen nick here helps society to accept your lifestyle and make life more pleasant?”
  #2 “Do you think Hitler was really a Nazi?
  
  lol
  
  My point is that we the people don’t have much time left. Next years election will be the most important in our history.
  Will America remain “the land of the free and the home of the brave?
  or
  Will we become just another socialist nightmare?
  
  ONLY “We the People” can decide!
  
  Report this comment
thermonator
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:57am
Lets be clear. The left doesn’t want tolerance or freedom for everyone. When enough people finely realize that leftism is the religion of the left will we be able to find an antidote for this disease.

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- bible quotin' science fearin' conservative american
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:05am
  Crystal………..
  
  Report this comment
- Jim in Houston
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 12:14pm
  357 magnum?
  
  Report this comment
Jenny Lind
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:52am
you all know this is going to get worse before it get’s better; Glad there is one group of good guys to take up these causes, and once in a blue moon the aclu does something right. The kids are taking a stand-and they know who they are! GOOD FOR THEM!

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WVBeagleMom
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:43am
God Bless them in their fight against progressives.

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boiz
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:34am
New flash for the principal. The school belongs to the tax payers! You didn’t build it, pay for it, buy it, etc. It’s NOT yours!

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- Jim in Houston
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 12:13pm
  But he/she/it is doing their best to destroy it.
  
  Report this comment
awakeningiscoming
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:29am
ACLJ= American Center for Law and Justice… for all you out there who do not know =)

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Kazooskibum
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:27am
“The principal said, ‘I don’t want any of these Christian clubs at my school,’”
Hey buddy, it’s not your school !

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trooper
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:26am
Good for them! I wonder if the ACLU will bet involved and try to sue the students for standing up for them selves. I bet it would be welcomed if muslimes staredt up a muslime club though, hu?

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- bible quotin' science fearin' conservative american
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:37am
  I get they won’t bet involved…
  
  Report this comment
awakeningiscoming
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:24am
Yup… Pres Clinton took that protection to the next level. In a nutshell, if a school issues a rule or tells a club they cannot (or can) do one thing or another, that same “rule” or “privilege” has to be extended to all clubs on campus.

When I was in high school, I was deeply involved in Christ on Campus. Our major goal was school service projects. For Christmas, we passed out candy canes for every single student and put them on every single desk during homeroom. We made a video for the morning school news, as so many other clubs do, to explain the candy canes were from us, to say Merry Christmas, and read Isaiah 9:6 (only the “unto us a child is born, a son is given..” and that’s it. That’s all.

Well, ONE teacher, the most liberal teacher in the school, complained to the teachers’ union. She was upset that we said the word Christ (in our name) on TV and that we read scripture. This is what they were accusing us of, LEGALLY. “Reading scripture to a captive audience.”
They were filing to make sure our club ceased to exist.
When they found out the principal was 100% behind us, they decided they would only file to have our “Terrier news” privileges away. We would never again be allowed to have access to running ads or announcements on the tv.
Our Christ on Campus teacher sponsor contacted the ACLJ. The school was prepared to cut all access to terrier news for ALL CAMPUS CLUBS (because of that law). The teacher’s union dropped the suit. =D

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- bible quotin' science fearin' conservative american
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:35am
  WOW !! you must be proud…
  
  Report this comment
- bry
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:06am
  And what have you done lately to make this world a better place? Aside from posting witless comments here?
  
  Report this comment
- bible quotin' science fearin' conservative american
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:14am
  @bry.. I did 100 push ups this morning :~) … Pipe down.. You think my first post was witless ? Then there really IS something wrong with you, because it’s a post on your side … Dope.
  
  Report this comment
- JustPeachy
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 1:09pm
  @Bible. He should be proud! Standing up for our rights in America is a good thing.
  
  Report this comment
langushire
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:21am
Finally, a group to defend good, Alliance Defence Fund, against evil, Anti Christ Lawyers Union (ACLU). Stupid Principal!

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AU Patriot
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:20am
Great News! We need to add this case to our prayers.

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- Marylou7
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:32am
  Already started.
  
  Report this comment
florida123
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:18am
When are the taxpayers going to get tired of paying off these lawsuits brought on by their Employees aka Gov’t Workers? We need to call these Gov’t workers and elected officials on the carpet big time when they choose to violate a citizens Constitutional Rights, and it cost us out the nose!!!!! Wake Up America!

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- bible quotin' science fearin' conservative american
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:32am
  you start it off I’ll meet you in the middle…
  
  Report this comment
338lapua
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:17am
What would Eric Cartman do?

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- Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:04am
  Shout, “Respect Mah Authoritaaaahhhh!”?
  
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commonsenseguy
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:12am
when it comes to defending Christians, the a c l u is no where in site, but muslims,and the destruction o f our flag and country they are all front and center. thank you “”ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND,”"”‘ peopel this is who we should be helping, groups who still believe in the traditional values, of god and country.

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- bible quotin' science fearin' conservative american
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:23am
  Was thinking the same thing about the ACLU….
  
  Report this comment
- Jim in Houston
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 12:08pm
  You mean the All Communist Lunatics Union, that ACLU?
  
  Report this comment
- Nepenthe
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 2:18pm
  I was thinking of the same thing, then I remembered that the “ACLU doesn’t help Christians” was already easily debunked.
  
  Report this comment
- Bhaub
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:08pm
  Except the ACLU wouldn’t have a case here, since it’s an obvious matter of separation of church and state. The ACLU would fully support a free speech case or a right to assemble, as they have done many, many times for Christians. But you’d have to look that up and use facts, and that’s soooo hard, isn’t it? :(
  
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- 59 Fender Pro
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 11:27pm
  I am grateful that the ADF took the case. On a more personal note, Bhaub, why don’t you go get yourself a muhamed icon and go spew your liberal ideals over at http://www.sharia4america.com ? I typically tolerate the trolls, but your icon is offensive, and considering your posts, I am concerned that you do not know the man in the picture you post.
  
  Report this comment
- Bhaub
  Posted on May 7, 2011 at 10:57pm
  Why is my icon offensive? It’s a smiling Jesus beside a cross.
  
  Report this comment
kickagrandma
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:09am
You go, kids! Proud of you for your stand. GOD is, too.

Remember that the world will hate us because we follow HIM. You are in good company. Hold fast to HIM. HE needs youto love and to obey HIM. Not many do these days. You are among HIS chosen. HE will be faithful to you through all you are enduring in HIS name.

GOD BLESS AND PROTECT IN JESUS’ PRECIOUS NAME, AMEN.

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- Nobamazone
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:21am
  Amen Grandma, we all need to be praying for these brave kids!
  
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theye
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:08am
Ya gotta watch those christians! all that prayin and hoping for good! real troublemakers!

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Marylou7
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:08am
Where do they come up with all these progressive principals and teachers??

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- streetrodder
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:20am
  Teachers union.
  
  Report this comment
- Itchee Dryback
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:50am
  Progressive colleges, and on line courses.
  
  Report this comment
- true2myword
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:18am
  It’s a very selective club. You have to be a liberal (or at least pretend to be) to get a job teaching. Therefore, almost all teachers are liberal.
  
  Report this comment
- jackeric61
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 10:48am
  Did anyone notice that since this was not a progressive ideal the students used the legal route instead of chaining themselves to the desks and chanting. Nice to see a civil response to a dictorial principal.
  
  Report this comment
- Bhaub
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:07pm
  Colleges. Conservatives can’t make it to that educational level.
  
  LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
  
  Report this comment
Grasshopper42
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:08am
If history repeats itself, the school will loose.

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StevenL1955
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:05am
And people wonder why our society is falling apart?

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- RepubliCorp
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:12am
  Principal – Brijinder Singh: <<<<< understand NOW!!!!! We have a hate crime
  
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- commonsenseguy
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:16am
  republiccorp,we have hate crimes,to bad Eric holder will not prosecute his own people, { communist anti American } but he will prosecute any conservative that has gotten out of line with the communist agenda, we need more to stand up, it well be bad at first, but it will get better and better,when the forces join and become one.
  
  Report this comment
- ISeeDanger.com
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:16am
  I read this story on CNN…
  Just kidding…
  
  http://Emergency-Foods.org
  
  Report this comment
- bible quotin' science fearin' conservative american
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:21am
  yes, muslim club ? by all means, but those nasty evil violent Christians to start a club ?.. NO WAY !!! not in my school they don’t..
  
  Report this comment
- RepubliCorp
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:21am
  COMMONSENSEGUY you are right….
  
  Report this comment
- grandmaof5
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:29am
  Officials at government run schoos have a government education so what else would we expect from them; that, and the fact that they aren’t smart enough to know the law, which I doubt. The principal was just trying to intimidate these students and, good for them, they fought back. Too bad they can’t sue the principal personally and set up a fund for a good Christian college education.
  
  Report this comment
- cassandra
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:36am
  it would be OK if it was a coummunist club
  
  Report this comment
- WestOfThePecos
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:38am
  I thought it was a public school. What part of ‘my school’ does this principle mean? Is this some new collective ownership?
  
  Report this comment
- southerngal
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:54am
  the correct pronuskiation is “those’ Christian clubs”
  
  Report this comment
- sissykatz
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 7:55am
  I will pray that they get to have and keep their club. It amazes me that when it comes to Christianity the people think they can just run over us. Why not? We have sat down so long we have “Lost” our rights.Things
  are going to be different now that “WE THE PEOPLE” have awaken. We shall take back our rights and stop letting one person change the traditions we grew up with. It is for sure the kids out there today need all
  the help they can get.
  
  Report this comment
- Obama Bin Lying
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:27am
  But yet if it was the Young Bin Ladens club, he would be ok with it…..
  
  Report this comment
- j_man
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:35am
  I’m going to donate to the ADF.
  
  Report this comment
- Stoic one
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:44am
  FINE
  NO Christian club, THEN:
  
  None of the FOLLOWING
  muslim, jewish, gay and *****, afro-American, (fill-in-the-blank)ethnic-American, environment, communist, ANY SOCIAL OR RELIGIOUS CLUB
  
  Reading, Writing,and Arithmetic ONLY
  
  Report this comment
- southerngal
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:48am
  When I was in school the Catholic nuns came to the public school on Wednesdays for religious ed. The rest of us just went to a study hall. It really was a sort of cultural experience. We knew who the catholics were and they knew the rest of us were not. We had sunday school before church on sundays. It was respectful and no one made a big deal out of it.
  
  Report this comment
- hillbillyinny
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:22am
  Interesting re. the principal, @repulicorp, isn’t it!
  
  Report this comment
- mikem1969
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 10:16am
  Once again, a hate crime against christians. Sue their pants off.
  
  Report this comment
- independentvoteril
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 11:53am
  GOOD for the KIDS standing up.. I AM PROUD of them and their conviction.. IT’S about time..
  
  Report this comment
- banjarmon
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 12:28pm
  You go kids… carry the Cross High and Be proud!!
  
  Report this comment
- obamanation
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 2:10pm
  Teachers are dumb. That’s why they teach it instead of actually doing it.
  
  Report this comment
- Polwatcher
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 3:52pm
  What you wanna bet that they allow a Muslim club.
  
  Report this comment
- Mustangrider
  Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:02pm
  apparently the principle thinks he paid for the school himself instead of the taxpayers, of which Christians are part.
  
  Report this comment
- papapatriot
  Posted on May 8, 2011 at 1:19pm
  For too long we Christians have sat back and allowed the secular progressives to make the laws pertaining to religion. We must become relgious zealots. Not to foist our religion on others but to defend it against those who choose to destroy it. The many hours that I have spent reading the Constitution I have yet to find “seperation of church and state”. Our Constitution gives us the right to freedom of religion not freedom from religion. This all started when we allowed the SCOTUS to remove prayer from our schools. Since then there has been a constant erosion by secular progressives to remove all vestiges of religion (Christianity) from our lives. Without God our inalienable rights disappear, no God, no rights. Heed and adhere to the words of Thomas Paine “It is the duty of every Patriot to protect his country from its Government”. God Bless America.
  
  Report this comment

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