Texas Judge Rules Cheerleaders Can Make Bible Banners

A judge has ruled that cheerleaders at a southeast Texas high school can display banners emblazoned with Bible verses at football games -- a decision that supporters are calling a victory for religions freedom, Todd Starnes reports. State District Judge Steve Thomas ruled Wednesday that the Kountze High School cheerleaders' banners were constitutionally permissible, and determined that no law "prohibits cheerleaders from using religious-themed banners at school sporting events." High school and middle school cheerleaders in Kountze had painted Bible verses on the large paper banners they created for the football players to run through at the start of games, but after the Freedom From Religion Foundation filed a complaint, the school district banned the messages. Last October, Judge Thomas granted a temporary injunction that allowed the cheerleaders to continue displaying the banners. Roger Byron, an attorney with the Liberty Institute, said: "The court's order today that the cheerleaders' run-through banners are constitutionally permissible vindicates our clients' rights and brings this case to a successful end. This is a great victory, not only for these cheerleaders, but for religious liberty of student leaders across the country."