RELEASE:
Nonprofit Group Offers Legal Support in Local School District’s Defense of Religious Liberty
Mississippi Justice Institute calls letter from outside group a threat & harassment to our first freedoms as Americans and Mississippians
(JACKSON, MISS— October 27) – Today, Mike Hurst, Director of the Mississippi Justice Institute (“MJI”), sent a letter to Dr. Virginia Young, Superintendent of the Newton Municipal School District, lending MJI’s support, encouragement and legal resources to the district or their employees who are facing the threat of a lawsuit from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, an out-of-state group made up of atheists, agnostics and skeptics, whose purpose is “to promote the constitutional principle of separation of state and church, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.” [Letter Attached]
Hurst said, “I applaud the school district for standing up for religious freedom against these threats and harassment which directly contravene our first freedom – to freely practice, express and exercise our religious beliefs. Coach Smith did nothing wrong, and the school district is rightly and courageously taking a stand for his religious liberties. The First Amendment forbids the government from ‘prohibiting the free exercise’ of religion, while the Mississippi Constitution protects as sacred ‘the free enjoyment of all religious sentiments and the different modes of worship.’ MJI stands ready to defend the actions of the school district and any of its employees or other citizens whose constitutional rights are threatened or violated.”
The Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter to Dr. Young on October 13, 2016, calling Newton High School Coach Ryan Smith’s private baptism of one of his football players who had requested it illegal and unconstitutional. FFRF requested the school district to respond in detail as to the steps to be taken to address such matters in the future.
“The Newton Municipal School district has nothing to do with Coach Smith’s private religious beliefs or activities. This lawsuit threatens action against this school district unless it actively intervenes in the religious practice of its employees. The FFRF’s demand rejects religious tolerance, rejects religious accommodation and seeks to create a system where the government can dictate to its employees how, where and with whom they privately practice their religion,” Hurst said.
The Mississippi Justice Institute represents Mississippians whose state or federal Constitutional rights have been threatened or violated by government actions. It is the legal division of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy.
10/26/16
Magnolia Tribune
