By Rachel Devamithran, Liberty Counsel Intern and former AACS Legislative employee

Perhaps America’s Founding Fathers had a special celebration this last Independence Day as Liberty Counsel upheld the “truths to be self-evident,” through their settlement with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to amend Florida’s Santa Rosa County School District’s Consent Decree last week. Representing twenty-four of the district’s teachers, staff, students, and community members, Liberty Counsel battled the decree that violated dozens of constitutional religious freedoms these last two years. Violations included prohibiting teachers from praying privately, wearing religious jewelry, and attending and fully participating in baccalaureate services, and the students from participating in private, after-school religious functions. Founder of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law Mathew D. Staver said, “From the beginning we contended that this Consent Decree went too far and swallowed up the rights of teachers, staff, students and members of the community. The Constitution is not some relic that can be discarded at will.” School employees who disregarded the consent decree were subject to potential criminal or civil contempt charges. Principal Frank Lay and Athletic Direct Robert Freedman, for instance, were charged with criminal contempt after praying over a meal. Their prospective sentence was a $5,000 fine, six months in jail, and a collective loss of seventy years worth of retirement benefits. Liberty Counsel defended those charged and championed the upholding of our Constitutional religious liberties resulting in a huge win for Santa Rosa County citizens. Staver went on to say, “We are pleased that freedom has been restored to Santa Rosa County. It is appropriate to celebrate these restored freedoms as America celebrates Independence Day.”

From The Washington Flyer, July 8, 2011. Published by the American Association of Christian Schools