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Two civil rights groups filed a lawsuit Wednesday to force the school board to remove the picture of Jesus at Bridgeport High School. The issue is now making national headlines.
Story by Gabe Gutierrez Email | Bio
"The so-called progressives have launched an all-out assault on the foundational principles of our nation," said Pat Robertson, the conservative host of "The 700 Club".
While not referring specifically to those involved in the Bridgeport lawsuit on Thursday's broadcast, he lashed out against anyone opposed to what he calls "America's religious tradition."
"Those who are doing this," he said, "let's face it -- this was a communist plan decades ago to undermine America."
John Taylor, an associate law professor at West Virginia University, said it's not that simple. He believes the two civil rights groups, the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United For Separation of Church and State, have a very strong case.
"If you make the argument that putting up a picture of Jesus is making a religious statement, but an sufficiently inclusive religious statement, that argument is hard to make," Taylor said.
Another tough question: How does the Harrison County school board plan to fund its defense?
"One of the things that's dicey is that this type of litigation can be expensive," Taylor said.
Taxpayer dollars could be used -- or the free legal counsel offered by a Mississippi based religious group.
"In America, we have a long tradition of suspicion of the idea mixing religion and government is going to be good for government and good for religion," Taylor said.
The school board has 20 days to respond to the lawsuit.
School board member Doug Gray was absent from the meeting earlier this month. He would have been the fifth and deciding vote. Instead, the board split the vote and the motion to remove the picture failed.
12 News spoke with him Thursday and asked him how he would have voted.
"Either way, it doesn't matter now," Gray said, adding that he preferred not to comment further.
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