A chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes filed a federal lawsuit against a New Jersey school district after the club was blocked from having volunteer mentors — even as they were allowed for other clubs.
The lawsuit, filed on Aug. 11 by religious liberty advocacy group Becket, alleged that two FCA clubs at Hopewell Valley Regional School District were banned from having volunteers under a policy forbidding outside mentors for religious clubs.
“While other student groups benefit from regularly hosting adult volunteers (a resource often crucial to the groups’ long-term health), the District has declared that for ‘religious clubs,’ ‘no outside individuals are permitted’ at all,” the lawsuit said.
“This damaging double standard is precisely the type of discrimination the Constitution and civil rights law forbid.”
Carolyn McDonough, FCA New Jersey Area Director and Hopewell Valley Central High School alumna, said in a statement that “as an inaugural member of FCA at Hopewell Valley’s Central High School, I know firsthand how much mentors mean to students.”
“They helped me grow in my relationship with Jesus and live out my faith through sports. Now I have the privilege of doing the same for today’s students. I pray the court will let me continue that ministry.”
Hellbound and Down 