HOUSTON – A group of Southeast Texas high school cheerleaders is no longer at risk of being kept from displaying banners emblazoned with Bible verses at football games, an appeals court ruled Thursday.
The cheerleaders’ school district, which had been sued in the case, hailed the ruling a victory.
But Hiram Sasser, an attorney for the cheerleaders, said he worries the ruling leaves open the question of whether the religious liberties of his clients and others will be protected in the future.
The lawsuit by the cheerleaders’ parents stems from a complaint by the Freedom From Religion Foundation in 2012 that sought to have the Christian-themed signs banned.
The Kountze School District had initially said the banners could not be displayed, but it later changed its policy, allowing them. However, trustees said the district retained the right to restrict the content of school banners.