ACLU Complains About Christian Athlete Speakers At Schools

Sunday's Kansas City Star reports that the ACLU is raising questions with the St. Joseph, Missouri school district about the religious content of presentations made by motivational speakers in the schools. The speakers were arranged through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which says it is careful not to cross the line in church-state matters. The ACLU's letter to the district attorney complaining about the situation focuses particularly on religious motivations reflected in various e-mails from Cindy Crouse, the school district's coordinator of guidance and counseling. For example, in describing a mother's complaints about the speakers, Crouse said: "Satan was at work today."  The ACLU is also concerned about use of the school assemblies to promote religious events taking place elsewhere. The school district's attorney says that the school has followed the law, and that it will remind those involved with programs that they cannot let their personal faith interfere with their job duties.