Religious Neutrality within Harrisburg Schools

Harrisburg Ill – The Wisconsin- Based Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) has informed the Harrisburg school district that a member of the Youth Ministry can no longer reach out to students. This came after a complaint from a professing atheist was voiced that the youth ministry member and Baptist church leader was violating the US Constitution.

The students at the school were given permission slips to be allowed to see the member of the Baptist church. According to attorney Ryan Jayne, Red flags were raised claiming that the religious leader was “inappropriate and it is unconstitutional for the district to offer religious leaders access to befriend and proselytize students during the school day on school property”

This issue also brought on the question of religious neutrality within the schooling system due to Catholic dominance, attorney Ryan Jayne also wrote that schools cannot be used as a place of recruitment during school hours. “This practice demonstrates an unlawful preference not only for religion over non-religion, but also Christianity over all other faiths,” Jayne also wrote. “Public schools have a constitutional obligation to remain neutral toward religion.”

University of St. Francis Student Christian Hoeger addressed the subject “It doesn’t matter that the complaint was placed by a professing atheist, religious neutrality is important in public schools no matter what you believe. I agree that it should not be allow during school hours as youth groups/ church can be chosen to be attended after school hours.”