Lowell, USA - The parent of a sixth-grade Lowell Middle School student is suing to allow her son to be excused to attend religious pilgrimage to Branson, Mo. next fall.
The Indiana Civil Liberties Union filed a civil rights action against the Tri-Creek School Corp. on behalf of Ruth Scheidt and her son to stop the school district from expelling the boy for missing too many school days.
Scheidt, a member of the United Church of God's Munster congregation, alleges the school district is discriminating against her religious beliefs.
Her church considers Christmas and Easter pagan holidays, but does recognize annual holy days such as: the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Pentecost, the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day in which members and their children are commanded by God to attend.
The Civil Liberties Union is asking U.S. District Court Judge Philip P. Simon to issue a preliminary injunction stopping the school from disciplining her son. School policy doesn't recognize such special church services as excused absences.
The United Church of God, based in Cincinnati, has 20,000 members worldwide.
Tom Kirkpatrick, the church's business manager, said about three-fourths of the church's members attend the Feast of Tabernacles, which is held at sites throughout the world, including The Wisconsin Dells, Branson, Mo., Panama City, Fla., San Diego, Hawaii and Alaska.
He said the emphasis is not only on worship but on family time, so many feast sites are in recreational areas so families can get together.