Court rules for religious group on after-school access [View all]

[rug]

Posted by: Steve Brandt
August 30, 2012 - 11:51 AM

A religious-based club that met in a Minneapolis school won a court victory against the school district, when a federal appeals court determined the district could not exclude the club from its after-school activities program.

The ruling filed Wednesday by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit comes in a request for an injunction by Child Evangelism Fellowship of Minnesota to maintain standing as an after-school community partner at Jenny Lind Elementary School.

The district court abused its discretion in denying the fellowship's injunction, the appeals court ruled in reversing the denial and sending the case back to the trial court.

The program gained access to the school in 2000 to hold its weekly “good-news clubs” for students ages five to 12. The meetings involve Bible stories, lessons on moral and character development, prayer, songs and creative activities. They are open to all students, with parental permission.

http://www.startribune.com/blogs/168007986.html

The decision:

http://www.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/12/08/113225P.pdf