01-07-2008, 04:15 PM
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Atheist Sues To Prevent Son From Attending Catholic School
LA GRANGE, Ky. -- A father is in a courtroom battle, trying to keep his son from attending a Catholic high school.
The parents involved in this case are divorced. David Ryan, the father, is an atheist. The mother is a Roman Catholic. Their son, who is in the eighth grade, attends a Catholic school in Oldham County.
“This is something where it can't be both ways,” said Ryan’s attorney, Edwin Kagin. “We think the constitution wins.”
According to Kagin, when Ryan and his wife got divorced, a judge ordered their son continue attending a Catholic school.
But Ryan is an atheist and wants his son to attend a public high school next year, so Friday, he took the issue in front of a judge in an Oldham County courtroom.
“David feels the orientation and the indoctrination of the church school is harmful to his child,” Kagin said.
According to court documents, Ryan believes if his son continues to attend a religious school, it will attempt to indoctrinate his son into a belief system that he as a parent rejects.
“A view that the world operates in conformity with supernatural forces and not with natural laws,” Kagin said.
Ryan's attorney said this case may just be about one kid and where he goes to school, but there's a much bigger issue at hand.
“The issue really does become one of what does church-state separation mean?” he asked.
Kagin said part of Kentucky’s constitution reads, "Nor shall any man be compelled to send his child to any school to which he may be conscientiously opposed."
Kagin said going by the law, the judge's decision should be easy, but he doesn't know how much the judge will consider Ryan’s son's wishes on the matter.
Atheist Sues To Prevent Son From Attending Catholic School - Louisville News Story - WLKY Louisville
1) IMO, the parent who has custody gets to make the decision.
2) The judge ordered the kid to attend the Catholic school?
Insufficient information, but I would bet that this issue (parental conflict on schooling) was already broached in the divorce, and a ruling was already made. The father wants an end-run on the already standing ruling...
3) Kentucky's constitution? 
I would bet gender equal protection would strike such a male dominated "right" down (unfortunately by a federal court) as the father should not have the sole opportunity for that decision.
4) A catholic married an atheist...
I'm reminded of that saying about a bird and a fish falling in love...
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