Canadian School Board Ends Gideon Bible Distribution

In the Canadian province of British Columbia, the Burnaby School Board has voted to end the offering of free Bibles by the Gideons to public school students. CBC News reported yesterday that the long-standing practice of Gideons International giving out pamphlets to fifth grade students asking them and their parents if they would like to receive a free Bible was ended after a parent complained. The majority of school board concluded that it is not the role of the public school system to spread religious beliefs. Dissenting board member Richard Lee argued that the practice should be permitted, with other religions also having an opportunity to hand out literature.