County Fair Rescinds Restrictions Held Against Religious Groups

By
Doug Huntington
Christian Post Reporter
Fri, Jun. 15 2007 10:06 AM ET

Officials for an Idaho county fair recently announced that restrictions held against two religious groups at their yearly event will be lifted, allowing free exercise for the ministries’ activities.

Originally, the Canyon County Fair & Festival Board in Caldwell, Idaho, had banned Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) and Gideon International from engaging in their outreach endeavors in the fair exhibit space. Board heads reversed that decision after receiving a letter from Liberty Counsel, a nonprofit litigation dedicated to advancing religious freedom, which explained that the treatment was unconstitutional.

"A barrier based on the religious viewpoint of groups seeking access to government-sponsored events like county fairs violates the right to freedom of speech,” explained Matthew Staver, president of Liberty Counsel, in a statement. “Instead of imposing restrictions, the government should welcome Child Evangelism Fellowship's positive messages of respect, morality and character development."