the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Chatham NJ, A years-long legal battle over religious content in a New Jersey middle school may soon reach the U.S. Supreme Court, following a recent appellate court ruling in favor of the Chatham School District.
Background: The Lawsuit That Sparked National Attention
In 2018, Libby Hilsenrath, a mother from Chatham, New Jersey, filed a lawsuit claiming her son’s public school was promoting Islam through its curriculum. The case centered around a mandatory class assignment that included watching a YouTube video Hilsenrath described as a “conversion video,” which allegedly called students to embrace Islam.
The lawsuit, supported by the Thomas More Law Center, argued that this material violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment — the constitutional protection against government endorsement of religion.
The Court’s Ruling: No Violation of Religious Neutrality
On Tuesday, a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit upheld lower court decisions dismissing the case.
“We express no opinion about the propriety of the curriculum… except to hold that it does not bear any of the hallmarks of religious establishment,” wrote Judge Kevin McNulty.
The court found no evidence of religious coercion or favoritism toward Islam, ruling that the materials presented did not amount to proselytization and that equal treatment of religions was maintained.
What’s Next: A Supreme Court Appeal?
Richard Thompson, president and chief counsel of the Thomas More Law Center, confirmed plans to file an en banc request for the full Third Circuit to review the decision. If denied, he intends to petition the U.S. Supreme Court.
“If this is the way it’s going to be… it’s a very important public interest issue,” Thompson said. “It means a lot for the future of our country.”
The nonprofit, which champions religious freedom for Christians and the preservation of Judeo-Christian values, says this case could redefine how religious content is approached in public schools.
The Core of the Complaint
Hilsenrath and her legal team particularly objected to a classroom video ending with the line:
“May God help us all find the true faith, Islam. Ameen.”
They argue this message amounts to religious evangelism, and therefore violates the separation of church and state.
“This is evangelization using taxpayers’ money in a course that was mandated by the school district,” Thompson stated.
Legal Pushback and the Kennedy Case
The Chatham School District, represented by attorney Ruby Kumar-Thompson, welcomed the ruling and expressed readiness for continued litigation if necessary.
Thompson’s legal team is also framing the case in light of the 2022 Supreme Court ruling in Kennedy v. Bremerton, where a high school coach was allowed to pray on the football field. They hope the justices will interpret the Establishment Clause using historical practices from the nation’s founding era.
“We’d like to see them put a little meat on the bone,” said attorney Robert Muise, citing the need for judicial clarity post-Kennedy.
A Case of Principle
Although Hilsenrath’s son is no longer in the class, the legal fight continues on principle. Her team insists the case is not an attack on Islam but a demand for fairness across all faiths.
“Would you want your child to be proselytized into another religion?” Thompson asked. “This is very important to the future of public school religious programs.”
A Polarizing Fight with Broader Implications
As the legal team prepares for a possible Supreme Court showdown, this case underscores a growing tension in public education over the boundaries of religious instruction, curriculum content, and the role of parental rights.
While the courts have so far sided with the school district, the outcome of this case — especially if taken up by the Supreme Court — could reshape how religion is treated in American classrooms.
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