City officials in Beaumont,
Texas have reversed their initial prohibition against police officers using the
police station for a Bible study.
According to reports, a
group of officers had been holding the Bible study at the police station during
their lunch break one to two times a month for the past two years.
“If we have a moral compass
to study, it makes us better public servants,” co-founder Sergeant Burt Moore
told reporters. “If we truly study [the Bible], it makes us better police
officers and we treat everyone, no matter who we deal with, as we wish to be
treated.”
However, last month,
City Attorney Tyrone Cooper concluded that the building could not be used for
studying the Scriptures because it was a public facility. City manager Kyle
Hayes also said that “city buildings are for public purposes and to conduct
city business … therefore, city policy prohibits all non-business activities so
that we treat everyone the same.”
Police Chief James
Singletary was subsequently advised to no longer allow the study to be held at
the police station.
On Friday, several officers, including Sergeant Burt Moore, Officer Tony
Harding, Detective Anthony Goudeau and Sergeant Barry Scarborough, announced
that they planned to file a lawsuit if city officials continued to deny use of
the building for the Bible study.
“My clients’ sincere
religious beliefs and convictions have been violated by the City of Beaumont’s
demand to stop holding a voluntary Bible study during their lunch hour at the
police station,” said Briscoe Cain, an attorney representing the officers. “The
last place we hope would impose on the religious rights of its own citizenry is
now oppressing the same police officers who place their lives on the line every
day to serve and protect us. We intend to show the City this is one thin blue
line they cannot cross.”
http://zionica.com/2015/12/23/texas-city-reverses-ban-on-police-bible-study/#
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