A Florida federal judge upheld the constitutional rights of a member of Gideons International Wednesday, allowing him to resume passing out Bibles on a public sidewalk outside a school until his case is resolved.
Christian legal group Alliance Defense Fund filed a suit in April on behalf of Thomas Gray, who was threatened with arrest by sheriffs alleging that he had “no right” to distribute Bibles within 500 feet of the school. In the suit, Gray is challenging the constitutionality of the Florida statute.
The district court on Wednesday granted a motion for preliminary injunction on the disputed statute, thereby prohibiting the state from enforcing it.
“It is in the public interest to protect to constitutional freedoms,” wrote U.S. District Court judge K. Michael Moore in the written ruling.
Gray and other members of Gideons Key Largo Camp never stepped on school grounds when they passed out Bibles during their evangelistic activity on Jan. 19. The group even notified the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office of their plans ahead of time and school officials on the day of the distribution. Both had agreed to allow the activity.
But Monroe County sheriffs later arrested two Gideon members for being within the school’s safety zone.
Attorneys with ADF contend Gray and other Christians have a constitutional right to express their faith on public property.
“Christians are not second-class citizens under the Constitution when it comes to free speech,” said ADF senior legal counsel David Cortman Thursday.
“We are pleased that Mr. Gray will have the opportunity to continue his activities without fear of harassment or arrest while the lawsuit moves forward.”
Comments
to BobC, Children do not grow up to make a mind on their own, to think this is stupid, I´m sorry to say. Everyone is influenced the whole day long. By friends, parents, especially TV, adverts, games, experiences an so on.
The bible is something they should be contacted to just as well.
Don´t blame God for so called christians - God is the only God, Jesus is his son and to experience his love is the most relevant thing a child should be able to - then they can truely decide.
all those doctors, and scientists (some of which may have been involved in discovering or inventing something that helped cure a disease or illness) that are so stupid because they believe in God....i see how stupid they are...
or is that your "stupid" conspiracy?
yes, bob, we know all about your conspiracy of "stupid".
"passing out Bibles on a public sidewalk outside a school"
This might be legal, but it's still child abuse. Bibles make people stupid.
Children should be allowed to grow up and be able to think for themselves before being exposed to the insanity, the stupidity, and the lies in the Bible.
He has a right to tell people what he believes, he just does not have the right to force it upon them.. and the children have the right to throw the bible away and the parents have the right to not allow their children read the bible. I say this case is constitutional.