FFRF cuts bibles out of Ohio surgical unit (June 26, 2012)

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has put an end to the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base's practice of placing bibles in medical center waiting rooms.

Prior to FFRF's complaint, the Wright-Patterson Medical Center on the Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, displayed Gideon bibles throughout its surgical unit waiting room, a government-run facility. FFRF Staff Attorney Stephanie Schmitt wrote to facility management on April 27, 2012, that "providing such material to patients and guests sends the message that they are expected to want to read the religious publications and that the hospital endorses the message found in the material." She added that "government-run hospitals have a constitutional obligation to remain neutral towards religion."

Schmitt noted that if a patient desires to read religious material during their hospital visit "they can bring their own."

A local resident informed FFRF on June 26 that all bibles have been removed from the surgical unit waiting room.