Montgomery County school officials are fighting an attempt by Child Evangelism Fellowship to distribute fliers to students at two elementary schools, with the Justice Department's civil rights division supporting the religious group.
The fellowship sponsors after-school meetings with Bible-based activities. It is appealing a ruling that temporarily blocks their meetings, and the county in turn is challenging the appeal with arguments due in September.
A federal district judge barred the fellowship from sending home permission slips with students at elementary schools in Rockville and Damascus, Md. The forms invited students to "Good News Clubs" offering "Bible adventures, missionary adventures, games, singings and much more!"
The case is one of several the fellowship has taken to court to promote its Good News Clubs in public schools. The group won a 2001 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that schools must give the clubs equal access to school space on the same basis as other voluntary meetings.
The schools' attorney said the Constitution's ban on "establishment of religion" would be violated if schools "forced teachers to pass out proselytizing materials" or "recruitment fliers."
A spokesman said the Justice Department regards the forms as informational, not recruiting tools.