[NYTr] Cherry Creek (Colo) Schools Unlawfully Urge Churchgoing

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Freedom From Religion Foundation
http://ffrf.org/news/2007/cherrycreek.php


FFRF Files Newest Federal Lawsuit

Cherry Creek Schools Unlawfully Urge Churchgoing

October 19, 2007

(MADISON, WIS.) The Freedom From Religion Foundation, the nation's
largest association of atheists and agnostics, is suing the Cherry
Creek School District in Denver, Colo., for urging that children spend
an hour a week at a religious institution.

Filed on behalf of three parents and their three children, the lawsuit
challenges a program known as "40 Developmental Assets," which is
widely disseminated by defendant Supt. Monte C. Moses and the school
district. The district urges parents to put the assets "to work in your
family, you school, and your community," promises success for children
who are "asset-rich," and warns that not having these assets can "kill
you."

Asset 19 states: "Religious Community -- Young person spends one or
more hours per week in activities in a religious institution."

The Foundation's legal complaint notes: "This Asset is prominently
posted in Cherry Creek public schools alongside the photo of a young
child with her hands clasped as though in prayer under the title 'Faith
Community.' "

The Foundation legal complaint notes says the "adoption, promotion,
endorsement, approval and publicizing of Development Asset 19" by the
district "constitute an establishment of religion in violation of the
First Amendment to the Constitution." as well as violating the
prohibition against teaching sectarian tenets or doctrines found in the
Colorado Constitution.

The Foundation alleges that these activities:

"Show favoritism toward religion and religious institutions;

"Create an excessive entanglement with religion,

"Have the principal effect of advancing religion,

"Have no valid secular purpose,

"Turn plaintiffs into outsiders based solely on religion,

"Place the Cherry Creek District's imprimatur upon religious
institutions which teach dogma with which Plaintiffs disagree, 

"Spend Plaintiffs' tax dollars in promoting religious institutions with
which Plaintiffs disagree, and 

"Promote the idea that attendance at religious institutions is
essential to good citizenship, an idea which is offensive to
Plaintiffs."

The school district has agreed to stipulate to the Foundation's request
for a protective order, which will keep the identity of the parents and
children confidential to protect them from reprisal.

Read the Legal Complaint for FFRF, John Doe, et al. v. Cherry Creek
School District and Monte C. Moses, Supt. (PDF file) here:
http://ffrf.org/news/2007/CherryCreekcomplaint.pdf

© Freedom From Religion Foundation.