Library Denies Creationist's Bid for Public Room, Now Faces Lawsuit
by Allie Martin
(AgapePress) – A South Carolina public library is being sued over a policy which prohibits religious and political speech in a community room.
Recently Chris Pfeifer, founder of The Genesis Commission — a non-profit organization which educated the public about creationism — asked the City of Charleston, South Carolina, to allow him to hold a seminar in the public library. His request was denied because of a city policy that states library meeting rooms cannot be used for religious worship, celebratory services, or religious purposes.
Although Pfeifer does include religious views on the creation of the universe in his workshops, Mat Staver of the Florida-based Liberty Counsel says the policy is unconstitutional and should be overturned.
“I'm constantly amazed at how many libraries have these unconstitutional policies whereby anyone can use their common meeting rooms for whatever topic except the topic of religion,” Staver says. “These policies are blatant violations of the constitutional guarantee to freedom of religion and freedom of speech.”
Staver says a public library, of all places, should be a place open to a multitude of ideas.
“Certainly there are different kinds of books on various topics, including political and religious topics, in the library. It's unbelievable that you can read those books by yourself, but you can't go into the common community room and tell someone else about the subject matter,” he says. “That's why these policies are so blatantly unconstitutional.”
American Library Association policy says that all libraries are forums for information and ideas.
by Rusty Pugh
(AgapePress) – Home schooling is gaining more credibility nationwide. One example of the increased popularity is a recent home school convention in Oklahoma.
Among the many questions always asked about home schooling are: Will my children receive the socialization they need to grow and thrive in society if they learn full-time at home? And, what does state law dictate about home schooling? Officials tried to answer those questions and more over the weekend during the convention dedicated to those who educate at home.
Mike Smith with the Home School Legal Defense Association says these conventions play a very important role in the growth of home education, with a wide range of resources and speakers.
“Some of these speakers are normally home-schoolers,” Smith says. “They are there to continue to give vision to the home school families on why it's important to them to continue to home-school and do this very, very hard thing — which is teach one's child at home and take responsibility for their whole future.”
Event organizers say one of the most popular sessions at these conventions is one designed for parents who are thinking for the first time about home schooling.
(This update courtesy of Agape Press.)
