ICC Note: Following a letter of complaint issued by the American Humanist Association (AHA), South Carolina troopers are now banned from offering Christian materials to grieving families. The issue arose when an atheist woman was given a copy of the faith-based book called “A Time to Grieve” after being notified that her father was killed in a car crash. The AHA argued that it was unconstitutional for these government employees to distribute literature associated with a particular religion according to the Establishment Clause.
By Heather Clark
01/17/2017 United States (Christian News Network) – Troopers in South Carolina will no longer give a Christian book to residents grieving the loss of a loved one following receipt of a complaint on behalf of an atheist woman who was gifted a copy of the publication.
“We regret that any family member would have misunderstood our intentions or was offended by our effort to offer compassion during such a difficult time,” Sherri Iacobelli, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Public Safety, told reporters.
“Since this concern was brought to our attention, we have re-evaluated the ‘A Time to Grieve’ and will no longer send those particular pieces of literature to families following the death of a loved one in a motor-vehicle collision.”
The American Humanist Association (AHA) had sent a letter to the department earlier this month after being contacted by an atheist woman who had received a copy of the book following the death of her father, who died in a car accident.
The book, published by Stephen Ministries, urges readers to look to God in their pain and provides them comfort from the Scriptures.
“Stand still, and whisper God’s name, and listen. He is nearer than you think,” a portion reads.
AHA contends that it is unconstitutional for a government department to distribute material written from a Christian viewpoint.
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