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Liberty Counsel Warns School Board Not to Violate Pastor's Free Speech
http://www.lc.org/index.cfm?PID=14100&PRID=1211
July 25, 2012
www.LC.org
Miami, FL - Liberty Counsel has sent a letter to the Miami-Dade County
School Superintendent stating that any effort to rescind a facilities
usage lease to a church because of the pastor's sermon on
homosexuality would violate the First Amendment.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools is `reviewing' its lease to Impact
Miami Church after Pastor Jack Hakimian preached the Biblical position
on homosexuality. The school district superintendent maintains that
the sermon allegedly violates the district's antibullying and
nondiscrimination policy. However, in the sermon in question, Pastor
Hakimian explicitly denounces bullying and teaches to respect all
people:
`The reason why I am dealing with [homosexuality] so much is because
there is an aggressive approach by...gay theologians that says the Bible
never spoke about homosexuality in a way that contemporary Christians
understand it. It's all over - it's on the Youtube, its on CNN, and
its on 60 Minutes. They are not just saying, `accept us' - and I
believe we should protect, and not bully, and treat all people with
dignity and respect - but they are going beyond and above to change
the very meaning of Scripture.'
The nondiscrimination and antibullying policies of the Miami-Dade
School Board are not applicable to the situation at hand. Pastor
Hakimian and the church have violated no law or policy. The district
cannot discriminate on the basis of his Biblically sound viewpoint.
Any attempt by the school board to modify, change, or revoke the lease
agreement would be unconstitutional.
`The district must respect the First Amendment rights of Pastor
Hakimian and the church,' said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of
Liberty Counsel.
Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education,
and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the
sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono
assistance and representation on these and related topics.
http://www.lc.org/index.cfm?PID=14100&PRID=1211
July 25, 2012
www.LC.org
Miami, FL - Liberty Counsel has sent a letter to the Miami-Dade County
School Superintendent stating that any effort to rescind a facilities
usage lease to a church because of the pastor's sermon on
homosexuality would violate the First Amendment.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools is `reviewing' its lease to Impact
Miami Church after Pastor Jack Hakimian preached the Biblical position
on homosexuality. The school district superintendent maintains that
the sermon allegedly violates the district's antibullying and
nondiscrimination policy. However, in the sermon in question, Pastor
Hakimian explicitly denounces bullying and teaches to respect all
people:
`The reason why I am dealing with [homosexuality] so much is because
there is an aggressive approach by...gay theologians that says the Bible
never spoke about homosexuality in a way that contemporary Christians
understand it. It's all over - it's on the Youtube, its on CNN, and
its on 60 Minutes. They are not just saying, `accept us' - and I
believe we should protect, and not bully, and treat all people with
dignity and respect - but they are going beyond and above to change
the very meaning of Scripture.'
The nondiscrimination and antibullying policies of the Miami-Dade
School Board are not applicable to the situation at hand. Pastor
Hakimian and the church have violated no law or policy. The district
cannot discriminate on the basis of his Biblically sound viewpoint.
Any attempt by the school board to modify, change, or revoke the lease
agreement would be unconstitutional.
`The district must respect the First Amendment rights of Pastor
Hakimian and the church,' said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of
Liberty Counsel.
Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education,
and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the
sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono
assistance and representation on these and related topics.