Liberty Institute: VA Admits Censorship Of School Children's Christmas Cards And Confirms Nationwide Policy That Unfairly Discriminates Against Religion

PLANO, Texas, Dec. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Department of Veterans Affairs responded to Liberty Institute's demand letter on behalf of Susan Chapman, a teacher and organizer of a Christmas card project for veterans.  To view a copy of the demand letter, follow this link:  http://www.libertyinstitute.org/document.doc?id=123.  To view a copy of the VA's response, follow this link:  http://www.libertyinstitute.org/document.doc?id=125. 

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120523/DC12743LOGO-b)

In light of the VA's response, Liberty Institute issues the following statement: "In the response, the VA admits that they are banning kids from freely giving veterans Christmas Cards that say Christmas.  The VA further admits that it is screening cards for religious content, and, according to the policy the VA references in its response, will only give a veteran a card that says Christmas if the veteran actually requests such a card on their own.  To view a copy of the policy referenced by the VA, follow this link: http://www.libertyinstitute.org/document.doc?id=124.  A policy of banning Christmas cards unless a veteran specifically asks for a Christmas card is not only unlawful, it is patently silly.  We are continuing our investigation of this incident as well as numerous others we are learning about where VA facilities across the country are engaging in alleged hostility to religion in violation of the First Amendment and federal law."

Liberty Institute is a national nonprofit legal group dedicated to defending and restoring religious liberty across America — in our schools, for our churches and throughout the public arena. Liberty's vision is to reestablish religious liberty in accordance with the principles of our Founding Fathers. For information, visit www.LibertyInstitute.org.

SOURCE Liberty Institute