The Freedom From Religion Foundation is complimenting a Virginia school district for doing the right thing in ignoring a recent misguiding missive from a Christian nationalist group. Liberty Counsel is objecting to Loudoun County Public Schools’ decision requiring a teacher to refrain from using a bible verse in her signature in her official district email account. In its letter, Liberty Counsel mischaracterized the Supreme Court’s recent decisions in Shurtleff v. City of Boston and Kennedy v. Bremerton, arguing that it is now religious discrimination to direct a teacher not to include religious expressions in official district communications. This is blatantly inaccurate, and FFRF appreciates that the district has correctly disregarded these specious claims. “It is well-settled law that public schools may not promote or show favoritism toward religion,” FFRF Attorney Chris Line writes to Loudoun County Public Schools Acting Superintendent Daniel Smith. “The statements of a district employee are attributable to the district. It is inappropriate and unconstitutional for the district or its agents to promote a religious message because it conveys government preference for religion over nonreligion.” When district employees use official channels of communication to promote their religious beliefs, it sends a message of exclusion that needlessly […]
