An Indiana public school must stop its “released time” Bible course until a lawsuit over its constitutionality is decided, according to U.S. Magistrate Judge Roger B. Cosbey.
Indiana allows schools to set aside 120 minutes of “released time” per week for students to practice their religion. A U.S. Supreme Court decision has upheld “released time” religious education, so long as the classes do not take place on school property.
An unidentified parent of an 8-year-old in Huntington County Community School Corp. said the school is not meeting that requirement, and filed a lawsuit alleging the “By the Book” Bible courses are unconstitutional. The school allows the classes to be held in mobile trailers on school property and provides electricity for them.
In making the decision to put the course on hold, Cosbey said it’s likely the school has unconstitutionally endorsed religion. He said the school has left “impressionable elementary school students” to believe religious instruction is “on par with, perhaps indistinguishable from, their secular studies.” (H.S. v. Huntington County Community School Corporation)
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