SALEM, Ore., Sept. 9 (UPI) -- The Oregon Supreme Court says Portland public schools did not discriminate against atheist students by letting the Boy Scouts recruit during school hours.
The court ruled Friday that even though the Boy Scouts require a belief in God to become a member, no discrimination took place because neither the recruiter nor the Scout material distributed during lunchtime to elementary school boys mentioned religion, The (Portland) Oregonian reports.
"The school district has done nothing more than permit a community group to provide non-discriminatory information to parents and students, who may then voluntarily decide the extent of their involvement, or non-involvement, in such activities," Justice W. Michael Gillette wrote.
The 6-1 opinion reversed the Oregon Court of Appeals, which ruled last year the school district had contributed to discrimination by letting the Boy Scouts recruit during school hours at an elementary school in 1996.
The mother of a first-grader sued because the Scouts don't let atheists join.