DEACON FOR LIFE: NEWS ALERT:

Monday, July 23, 2007

NEWS ALERT:

Thomas More Law Center Ensures Right Of

Third-Grade Student To Read Bible In Public School

ANN ARBOR, MI – The Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has received the written assurance from Elementary School District 159, which is outside of Chicago, Illinois, that its client, Rhajheem Haymon, a third-grade student, will be permitted to read his Bible in school.

After being contacted by Leslie Haymon, Rhajheem's father, and being informed that school officials had denied Rhajheem the right to read his Bible during "reading time," a time during the day when students may read a book of their choosing, Edward L. White III, trial counsel with the Thomas More Law Center, immediately sent school officials a demand letter on the Haymon's behalves.

In the letter, White informed school officials that the United States Supreme Court and the United States Department of Education have assured that students are free to express their religious views while at school, a freedom that includes a student's choice to read religious materials. He explained that a public school may not suppress or exclude the speech or expression of individual students for the sole reason that the speech is religious or contains a religious perspective. Soon after receiving the letter, the school district sent written assurance that Rhajheem could bring his Bible to school and read it at the appropriate times during the school day.

Leslie Haymon stated: "I thank the Thomas More Law Center for the assistance given to me and my family. I thank them for protecting our rights as Christians and as Americans. I thank God for the work of the Thomas More Law Center."

Assisting the Thomas More Law Center in this matter was Kevin Edward White, an attorney in Chicago.

The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life through education, litigation, and related activities. It does not charge for its services. The Law Center is supported by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, and is recognized by the IRS as a section 501(c)(3) organization. You may reach the Thomas More Law Center at (734) 827-2001 or visit our website at www.thomasmore.org.

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"In Cordibus Jesu et Mariae"

LIFE IS SACRED

An example of the traditional magisterial teaching which indicates that it is never morally licit to intentionally kill a child through abortion in order to “save the life of its mother” comes from the teaching of Pope Pius XII:

“Every human being, even the infant in the mother's womb, has the right to life immediately from God, not from the parent or any human society or authority. Therefore, there is no man, no human authority, no science, no medical, eugenic, social, economic or moral ‘indication’ that can show or give valid juridical title for direct deliberate disposition concerning an innocent human life-which is to say, a disposition that aims at its destruction either as an end in itself or as the means of attaining another end that is perhaps in no way illicit itself. Thus, for example, to save the life of the mother is a most noble end, but the direct killing of the child as a means to this end is not licit.”