8th Circuit Hears Arguments In Gideon Bible Case

Yesterday the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in Roark v. South Iron R-1 School District, (Docket No. 08-1847). A recording of the full oral argument is available from this page of the 8th Circuit's website. In the case, a Missouri federal district court held that a school district's policy permitting adult members of Gideons International to distribute Bibles to elementary school students on school property during the school day violates the Establishment Clause. (See prior posting.) Today's Christian Post reports on the case. Liberty Counsel's Mat Staver who represents the school district framed the issue this way in a statement: "The Bible cannot be singled out for special penalties like contraband." Believers' Rights blog also discussed the case yesterday.