A group of high school cheerleaders in southeast Texas appears to have won its battle for religious freedom, at least until the middle of next year. State District Judge Steven Thomas issued an injunction on Thursday that allows Kountze High School cheerleaders to continue using run-through banners decorated with Bible verses at home football games. Thomas ruled that the school district's ban on the Biblical banners violated free-speech rights.
The cheerleaders now are free to display the messages until June 2013, when a full trial is scheduled. "This gets us through the football season," Mike Johnson, senior counsel for the Liberty Institute, a religious liberties defense organization representing the cheer squad, told ABC News. "We have four more games, including [tonight]."
The Freedom From Religion Foundation, which recently stepped up its efforts to eliminate pregame prayers and other symbols of faith from high school sports (citing First Amendment violations), forced the Kountze Independent School District to ban the banners in September. The Madison, Wis.-based church-and-state watchdog contacted the district after at least one resident complained about the use of the Bible verses, which change from week to week.
On Oct. 4, Thomas declared that he needs more time to issue a final ruling on whether the large scriptural banners - "But thanks be to God, which gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57) read one recent banner - violate the First Amendment. So he initially extended a temporary order last month to allow the banners for at least another two weeks.
The Anti-Defamation League quickly issued a statement in which it called the judge's decision misguided: "Public schools are for children of all faiths or no faith, and these banners were clearly being displayed in the context of school-sponsored activities. Faith is a profoundly personal decision, so students should not be subjected to an exclusionary school-sponsored religious message on campus or be forced to choose between attending quintessential school events - football games - or being subjected to an unwanted religious message."
On Wednesday, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott and Gov. Rick Perry voiced their support for the cheerleaders and urged them to continue their fight against the district.
