Parent Accused of Copyright Infringement and Hacking After Exposing Christian Curriculum

A rift between two sets of parents over Christian curriculum is appearing across an already divided nation. On one hand, some parents wish to give their children access to religious teachings as part of their normal studies. On the other hand, other parents believe in the separation of church and state. These parents argue that schools should steer clear of religious issues – and they often point to the Constitution to back up their claims. A recent story highlights this division between parents in the United States today. 

Religious Educational Nonprofit Sues Man for Exposing their Christian Curriculum

In July 2024, an Ohio-based religious nonprofit sued a parent in Ohio for copyright infringement. This parent had joined their nonprofit for the sole purpose of accessing these documents. Once he was able to view them, he allegedly became “shocked” and felt that he had to share the Christian curriculum with the world. He subsequently copied the files onto his own personal computer and shared them with other like-minded individuals. 

First, the nonprofit reported the parent for illegal computer hacking. However, the local police quickly concluded that the man had been given permission to view the files and that he did not “hack” into anything. As a result, the charges were dropped, and the investigation was stopped. But the nonprofit was not finished – and they decided to sue the parent for copyright infringement. 

Growing Trend of Religious Instruction in Lieu of Public School Classes

This lawsuit revolves around a growing issue in the United States – the presence of religious education in public schools. The nonprofit in question allegedly offers parents and students the opportunity to study a Christian curriculum. However, the student needs to obtain “released time” in order to attend these classes – and this might involve missing their normal, “non-core” studies – such as art or music. 

The parent became suspicious of this nonprofit and decided to volunteer as an instructor. Initially, his daughter’s teacher asked him whether she could be enrolled in one of these religious classes. Not only did the father refuse, but he was also shocked to discover that such a thing could even be legal. After all, he stated, the Constitution prohibits religious teachings in public schools due to the “Establishment Clause.” 

It is not clear whether the nonprofit will win its copyright infringement lawsuit against the parent. One might argue that he did not intend to profit from the materials in any way, but rather to warn other parents about the kinds of subjects their children would cover if they attended the classes. On the other hand, one might argue that the nonprofit correctly alleges that this unpermitted use of its Christian curriculum caused intentional reputational damage. 

This is Just the Latest in a Series of Lawsuits Involving Religion and Education

This is not the only current lawsuit involving religion and education in the United States. Many States have recently passed laws that require Bible-based education, the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, and other steps. Concerned parents are currently suing, hoping to push back against these requirements before the start of the next school year. 

The Goal of the Universal Life Church’s Blog

Each week, the Universal Life Church’s blog focuses on documenting the most noteworthy cases involving the required separation between church and state, free speech, LGBTQ+ rights and religious discrimination. Despite required Constitutional separation, many fear that the Supreme Court’s current majority could erode these rights. Our blog focuses on describing matters in a way that objectively examines both sides and which can be easily understood by readers.