The Freedom From Religion Foundation appears to have scored another victory for secularism in a public high school, after Madison County School District in Danielsville, Ga., announced it will either modify or remove an overtly religious monument at the Madison High School football stadium. FFRF became aware of the monument after a complaint was reported by a resident who is affiliated with the athletic program.
The monument was unveiled Aug. 22, and currently sits at the team entrance to the field. It features the school’s logo alongside two New Testament bible verses carved on the stone: Philippians 4:13 (“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”) and Romans 8:31 (“If God be for us who can be against us?”).
Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel sent a letter Aug. 28: “Courts have continually held that school districts may not display religious messages or iconography in public schools.” He also noted that religious monuments have the potential to cause religious divides.
On Sept. 24, an attorney representing the district responded: “The Board is currently investigating options available to it regarding the monument, including, but not limited to, removal of the monument or modifying the monument in some manner.”
