Methodist minister sues Arizona school for forcing religion on students

Jardine Malado Tuesday, September 20, 2016

A Methodist minister and a church-state separation group has sued an Arizona charter school for allegedly pushing students to engage in religion through its curriculum.

Last year, The Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU) sent a letter to Earl Taylor Jr., principal of Heritage Academy, calling on the school to stop making references to Christianity in its class on the government.

Heritage Academy, Mesa Campus | Screen capture/Youtube/Heritage Academy

In the letter, AU asked the school to stop using two textbooks in its classes. The books titled "Proclaim Liberty Throughout all the Land" and "The 5,000 Year Leap and The Making of America" are both published by the National Center for Constitutional Studies which is led by Taylor.

Taylor did not pull out the books because he said he is not using the material to convert students. AU filed a case against Taylor on Sept. 7 on behalf of an anonymous parent and United Methodist pastor David Felten.

"Felten is offended by and objects to the expenditure of his tax dollars to support the provision of religious instruction by Taylor and Heritage Academy to public-school students," the lawsuit stated.

"Heritage Academy and its principal, Defendant Taylor, are advancing religious beliefs and mandates by instructing students that they should obey and implement laws given by God in order to lead a happy life and have a prosperous country," it continued.

AU argued that the students are not merely reading the religious materials. They are also given and forced to memorize religious principles. AU asserted that students are even told to convert others to Christianity.

Barry W. Lynn, executive director of AU, noted that Heritage Academy is a public charter school funded by taxpayers. AU requested the suspension of the school's taxpayer funding if it continues to teach religion to students.

The complainants also demanded an undisclosed amount of money for damages. The lawsuit states that the plaintiffs were "harmed, intimidated, and distressed" by the school's endorsement of religious views.