Evangelical ‘shoebox’ scheme faces legal challenge in American schools
from National Secular Society:
The American Humanist Association has filed a lawsuit in Colorado to challenge ‘Operation Christmas Child’, an evangelical charity scheme, being promoted by public schools.
Samaritan’s Purse, which organises Operation Christmas Child, is run by Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham. In 2015 Graham backed Donald Trump’s proposal to bar Muslims from entering the United States.
The scheme supports “the advancement of the Christian faith through educational projects and the relief of poverty” and uses the shoeboxes to proselytise and promote a literalist, hard-line interpretation of Christianity.
David Niose, the legal director of the American Humanist Association (AHA) said: “As taxpaying citizens with children in the school district, these families object to their schools supporting the efforts of Christian missions to convert children in developing countries.
“Pressuring students to participate in religious programs in their public schools flies in the face of the separation of church and state that the Establishment Clause demands.”
The AHA initially filed the lawsuit against a school district in 2014, on behalf of local parents.
Related Posts
Tags
Share This
