{"id":2644457,"date":"2026-08-13T14:27:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T18:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/georgia-court-reinstates-school-bible-program\/"},"modified":"2026-08-13T14:34:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T18:34:58","slug":"georgia-court-reinstates-school-bible-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/georgia-court-reinstates-school-bible-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Georgia Court Reinstates School Bible Program"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">12<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgeorgia-court-reinstates-school-bible-program%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2644457&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A court has reinstated a Christian education program in Georgia called Sweet Onion Christian Learning after it was previously canceled by Vidalia City Schools. The program&#8217;s director, Rev. Gady youmans, was disciplined for publicly criticizing a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-unveils-massive-infrastructure-plan-calls-it-once-in-a-generation-investment\/\" title=\"Biden Unveils Massive Infrastructure Plan, Calls It \u2018Once-In-A-Generation Investment\u2019\">proposed tax increase<\/a> on social media. His attorneys argued that punishing him and terminating the religious program violated his First Amendment rights to free speech and religious freedom. The case highlights that the school district&#8217;s actions were an infringement on constitutionally protected rights, especially when the district&#8217;s investigation was based on youmans&#8217; social media posts criticizing government policy.The lawsuit aims to protect religious education and free expression, emphasizing that individuals should not face retaliation for exercising their rights.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>A Christian education program previously canceled in Georgia has gotten the green light to restart after its director was punished for exercising his free speech rights on social media.<\/p>\n<p>Vidalia City Schools made the decision to cut the program after director of Sweet Onion Christian Learning, Rev. Gady Youmans, criticized a possible spike in taxes on Facebook.<\/p>\n<p>His attorneys at Alliance Defending Freedom defended the pastor<a href=\"https:\/\/adfmedia.org\/press-release\/court-protects-georgia-minister-from-school-district-retaliation\/\">, arguing<\/a>, \u201cEvery American has the right to publicly criticize the government \u2014 that\u2019s what makes the First Amendment guarantee of free speech so special and the envy of the world. Vidalia City Schools can\u2019t punish Rev. Youmans \u2014 or his ministry providing high school students with free religious education \u2014 for simply sharing his opinion of a proposed tax hike,\u201d Legal Counsel Mercer Martin insisted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re pleased the court has reinstated Sweet Onion\u2019s released-time program and restored Rev. Youmans\u2019 constitutionally protected freedoms while his lawsuit proceeds.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Like a growing number of school districts, Vidalia had allowed the program, which, with parental approval, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.releasedtime.org\/\">releases students<\/a> \u201cfor a part of the school day to attend off-site religious instruction offered by a private sponsoring group. It recognizes and reinforces the constitutionally protected right of parents to direct the religious education of their children.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sitting down with Family Research Council\u2019s Jody Hice on \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=L9mJAkwWfgc&#038;feature=youtu.be\">Washington Watch<\/a>\u201d Tuesday, ADF Senior Counsel Phil Sechler reiterated, \u201cThe school had no business canceling the Sweet Onion Christian Learning Center and the release time program simply because of the posts that the executive director had made.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBasically,\u201d Sechler continued, \u201che was criticizing proposed tax increases that he thought were unnecessary and unwise. And the school board didn\u2019t like what he said. And soon he learned that the program would be canceled. And that\u2019s just not consistent with the Constitution.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sweetonionclc.org\/\">website<\/a>, Sweet Onion\u2019s mission is to make disciples through education centered around God\u2019s word.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe accomplish our mission to eradicate Biblical illiteracy by walking students through the Scriptures so that they can know God\u2019s ways, in order to better know Him. When students know Him better they will know how to find favor in His sight,\u201d the site reads.<\/p>\n<p>ADF reported that the superintendent of Vidalia City Schools \u201csecretly investigated Sweet Onion and learned that, six years ago, a parent from another school had removed her child from a Sweet Onion course after learning the ministry did not exclusively use the parent\u2019s preferred version of the Bible. Based on this incident, the superintendent reported to the board that, in addition to disagreement with the content of Youmans\u2019 posts, his instruction \u2018reflected a particular interpretation of the Bible\u2019 that wasn\u2019t presented in a \u2018neutral or well-balanced manner.\u2019 By targeting his religious instruction, the district violated Youmans\u2019 right to the free exercise of religion.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When ADF filed the lawsuit in May, Sechler was optimistic about the case\u2019s chances. Sechler stressed that it\u2019s important to stand up for values, and to stand by them, such as in the case of Sweet Onion. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about the government coming after you. The First Amendment is there for a reason to protect your right to say things, and especially on social media.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sechler added that ADF hopes the case will inspire others to not let their voices be drowned out when it matters.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe First Amendment protects Youmans\u2019 right both to criticize the proposed tax increase and to teach the Bible from his religious perspective,\u201d ADF noted. \u201cBy punishing him and his ministry for his criticism of the government and his religious instruction, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/broward-schools-superintendent-arrested-on-perjury-charge\/\" title=\"Broward ...s Superintendent Arrested On Perjury Charge\">school officials violated<\/a> that fundamental right.\u201d<\/p>\n<div><em>Quinn Delamater is a reporter for The Washington Stand.<\/em><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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