By Jim Brown
January 14, 2003

(AgapePress) - Six Massachusetts high-school students who were suspended for passing out candy canes that contained Bible verses have filed a federal lawsuit against their principal and district superintendent.

The L.I.F.E. Bible club members at Westfield High School were told they could not hand out the candy canes because the Christian message attached may be "offensive" to other students. Both Principal Thomas Daley and Superintendent Thomas McDowell refused the club's request to distribute the candy during non-class time.

Florida-based Liberty Counsel is now asking a federal court to strike down the literature-distribution policy, and reverse the one-day suspensions levied against the six students. According to president and general counsel Mat Staver, students have the right to communicate verbally, as well as in writing, to one another during non-class time.

Staver explains some of the students -- not typically ones to cause trouble -- could suffer long-term ramifications if the suspensions are not erased from their records.

"One of our clients is a National Honor Society student," the attorney says. "She's a senior seeking scholarship and entry to universities and colleges this year. A suspension of this nature would devastate her future career opportunities."

According to Staver, another one of the students involved in the lawsuit is seeking entry into the U.S. Air Force Academy. He maintains that a suspension on the student's record would probably block him from entry into that institution.

Staver classifies the actions of Westfield's principal and the district superintendent as "blatantly hostile and anti-Christian."

"It is very evident that instead of applauding the fine students who are academic achievers, they instead have sought to suspend them solely for distributing a candy cane that contains Bible verses and Christian messages," he says. "That is horrendous -- [and] it's unthinkable that in today's society these kinds of students would face suspension. But that's in fact what these school officials have done."

Staver says it is unconstitutional to censor a Christian message because a few people consider if "offensive." No trial date has been set for the case, but Liberty Counsel is asking for an expedited hearing.

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