Texas cheerleader: It's our duty as Christians to share the word with other people

A judge says cheerleaders can continue to use run-through banners emblazoned with Bible verses at a Texas high school's football games for at least two more weeks.

After a complaint letter was sent by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, the Kountze Independent School District banned cheerleaders from displaying Christian banners on the field during football games.  The cheerleaders sued, and the Texas state attorney general jumped into the fray, writing a letter to the school district in which he declared that his office would "provide assistance and to provide advice about a menacing and misleading letter you recently received from an organization called the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF). That organization has a long history of attempting to bully school districts into adopting restrictive religious speech policies that go well beyond what is required by the United States Constitution."

Sporting bible verses on her face, cheerleader Rebekah Richardson told the Associated Press, "This is what we believe and this is freedom of religion and freedom of speech, and as students, we still have rights.  And as Christians, not only is it our right, but it's our job.  It's our duty as Christians to share the word with other people and that's what we want to do."

Another hearing is scheduled for October 18 but it is unclear when the judge will issue a final ruling.  The court is allowing the cheerleaders to use their religious banners until the final ruling is issued.

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D. Beeksma

One of the growing crowd of American "nones" herself, Deborah is a prolific writer who finds religion, spirituality and the impact of belief (and non-belief) on culture inspiring, fascinating and at times, disturbing. She hosts the God Discussion show and handles the site's technical work. Her education and background is in business, ecommerce and law.

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