COLUMBUS—On Friday of last week, Citizens for Community Values, Monclova Christian Academy, St. John’s Jesuit High School & Academy, and Emmanuel Christian School filed an emergency motion with the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals against the Toledo-Lucas County Health District (TLCHD) order closing schools with grades 7–12.

On December 14, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick of the U.S. District Court in Toledo denied our motion for a temporary restraining order against the TLCHD.

In response, this emergency motion asks the Court to expedite the proceedings as the order to close in-person education for students in grades 7–12 originally went into effect on December 4, 2020, and continues until at least January 11, 2021, after students come back for the semester.

From the motion:

“Appellants [CCV, Monclova Christian Academy, St. John’s Jesuit High School & Academy, and Emmanuel Christian School] filed this appeal because the District Court’s Order denying Appellants’ Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction violates Appellants’ First Amendment Rights embedded in the Free Exercise clause, infringes upon Appellants’ civil rights and religious freedoms, and continues to cause irreparable harm to Appellants and Appellants’ students and families.”

For more information, contact CCV at 513-733-5775 or info@ccv.org.

As Ohio’s Family Policy Council, Citizens for Community Values seeks the good of our neighbors throughout Ohio by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel. We endeavor to create an Ohio where God’s blessings of life, family, and religious freedom are treasured, respected, and protected.

###