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Ed Schempp RIP

• Skeptics & Atheists

Everybody remembers that old cuss Madalyn Murray O'Hair. She wasn't the only litigant in the 1963 Supreme Court Bible reading in school case.

He objected when the Pennsylvania legislature altered its statute so nonbelievers or those of other faiths need not read from the Bible.

Mr. Schempp said the changed law was unfair to young dissenters. They might, he said, be called "oddballs" or suffer worse forms of ostracism.

A special Philadelphia district court panel found in the Schempps' favor. The town of Abingdon, Pa., then appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The case, School District of Abingdon Township v. Schempp, was combined with the O'Hair lawsuit.

Adam Bernstein, Washington Post: Ed Schempp Dies; Plaintiff In Landmark '63 Prayer Suit

Richard Evans Lee
November 19, 2003 •
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It's oddly misspelled: it's Abington. I lived there a few years ago, and two of my kids went to the high school. The decision is not commemorated in any way there. I knew of it, and mentioned it to several residents as well as people working in the school district -- no one had heard of it.

Posted by: PZ Myers | November 19, 2003 12:41 PM

How do you feel?

Feel free to share your feelings about Ed Schempp RIP. Please stick to the theme of the entry. Disagreement is fine. Homophobia, racism, and kindred expressions of hatred will be deleted. This site is one of my hobbies. I genuinely enjoy hearing from people and hate moderating or killing comments. Forthright disagreement is fine as long as it is civil.
My thanks,
Richard

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