A Pennsylvania school has capitulated to the demands of a militant atheist who demanded that it remove a Ten Commandments monument erected on a public high school campus.
New Kensington-Arnold School District agreed to remove the massive monument within 30 days – ending a lawsuit filed in 2012 by self-avowed atheist Marie Schaub. It must also pay $164,000 in legal fees.
Schaub claimed the 6-foot stone monument erected outside Valley High School was a religious symbol and therefore was a violation of the U.S. Constitution.
She told the Valley News Dispatch, “It’s unfortunate that many people in my community don’t understand or appreciate the separation of church and state, but I hope this settlement serves as an important lesson.”
Schools Superintendent John Pallone told the local newspaper they agreed to settle the lawsuit “in order to take the high road…” adding, “We compromised and agreed to remove the monument.”
Todd Starnes of Fox News wrote, “That’s hardly a compromise. It’s more like appeasement.”
Especially since the superintendent has told the newspaper he believed the district “had a winnable case” but he caved because he believes, “We’re in a position where we just can’t continue to fight this distraction.”
Starnes wrote, “The school district had an opportunity to demonstrate to children how to defend our rights under the Constitution. Instead, they chose to throw in the towel – for the sake of expedience.”