The Gideons, an international Bible distribution organization, can't give away their wares – at least not in public elementary schools in Somerset County, Maryland.

The school board banned the Gideons from distributing Bibles for free in schools after a woman describing herself as a Christian complained about the activity to the American Civil Liberties Union and the district.

Stephanie Kayhan contacted the ACLU saying she is against Bibles being passed out in schools, because it blurs the "separation between church and state," according to WBOC TV. She then wrote a letter to the school board arguing it is unconstitutional to allow the Gideons to continue. The school board subsequently suspended passing out Bibles on the school grounds.

"The Supreme Court has said this is unconstitutional," she told the TV station. "It's not allowed. So how high do you have to go? I mean it's the Supreme Court. You can't argue with the Supreme Court."

About the Bibles, she said: "I don't have a problem with them, I have a problem with them being in the schools."

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Not everyone in the community shares Kayhan's feelings about the Gideon Bibles. Dana Williams, another woman in the community whose son will be attending Princess Anne Elementary School next year, has no problem with the group passing out Bibles to kids who want them.

"It's a choice," said Williams. "If they want a Bible, then why not?"

The school took precautions when allowing religious organizations on campus. The school notified parents when the Gideons were on campus to pass out Bibles and pointed out that no child would ever be forced to take one.

"If there's some reason that a child doesn't want to accept a Bible, they're perfectly able to say 'no,'" said Catherine Benton, whose grandson is in the public school system.

 

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