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School Board Seeks To Enjoin Bus Stop Street Preacher

By Howard M. Friedman

In Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, the Dauphin Central School District is seeking an injunction to prevent street preacher Stephen Garisto from proselytizing middle school and high school students at a school bus stop.  The Harrisburg (PA) Patriot News reports that at a hearing yesterday, a state court judge extended a temporary injunction while she considers the case. Garisto, who insisted on being sworn in on a Bible at the hearing, says he has been ministering to children since the 1980's. He says his goal is to "get them saved and get them discipled."  Parents who testified Thursday expressed concerns about their children's safety. The school district's attorney argues: "These are kids. They don?t have the wherewithal to say to Mr. Garisto, ?I don?t want a Bible tract'." During the hearing, Judge Jeannine Turgeon told Garisto: "Mr. Garisto, you?re not Mr. Rogers. In our culture we tell children, 'Do not talk to strangers.'" She said his actions mimic those associated with pedophiles and child abductors.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on January 14, 2011 (boomark / email).