Some NASA employees crying foul over alleged religious censorship at JSC

A group of NASA employees is crying foul, accusing the Johnson Space Center of censoring the use of the name of Jesus to promote a praise and worship meeting group in a daily email newsletter. A group of NASA employees is crying foul, accusing the Johnson Space Center of censoring the use of the name of Jesus to promote a praise and worship meeting group in a daily email newsletter. Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Some NASA employees crying foul over alleged religious censorship at JSC 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A group of NASA employees is crying foul, accusing the Johnson Space Center of censoring the use of the name of Jesus to promote a praise and worship meeting group in a daily email newsletter.

Fox News’ Todd Starnes first reported on the complaint which was lodged by the Liberty Institute on behalf of the JSC Praise and Worship Club.

On its official webpage the Liberty Institute, one of the most notable religious liberty law firms existing, laid out some details of the club’s complaint.

The club says that in late May 2015 they were told by JSC’s legal team that they were no longer allowed to use the name Jesus in their newsletter statements, with attorneys saying that the name was termed as “sectarian.”

The email newsletter covers a combination of work, professional, civic, and social news around the space center.

According to the institute the club submitted this message for inclusion in that newsletter. They hadn’t been told previously that the name Jesus would be prohibited.

Join with the praise and worship band "Allied with the Lord" for a refreshing set of spring praise and worship songs on Thursday, June 4, from 11:15 a.m. to noon in Building 57, Room 106. (The theme for this session will be "Jesus is our life!") Prayer partners will be available for anyone who has need. All JSC civil servants and contractors are welcome.

The Liberty Institute says that NASA didn’t want to make anyone think that they were endorsing Christianity over other religions and non-religion that may exist.

The institute listed the many times that NASA employees had invoked the name of God, Jesus, or recited scripture during previous space exploration.

On Tuesday a NASA representative, Kelly Humphries, offered up a statement on the incident.

“NASA does not prohibit the use of any specific religious names in employee newsletters or other internal communications. The agency allows a host of employee-led civic, professional, religious and other organizations to meet on NASA property on employee’s own time.

Consistent with federal law, NASA attempts to balance employee’s rights to freely exercise religious beliefs with its obligation to ensure there is no government endorsement of religion.

We believe in and encourage open and diverse dialogue among our employees and across the agency.”

The praise club has since agreed to follow along with the policy but still appealed to the Liberty Institute. They have been meeting since 2001 at JSC with members meeting on their own time. They continue to meet to this day.

Attorneys are asserting that the praise club's constitutional rights are being violated.

On Monday a demand letter was sent to NASA representatives on behalf of the group, which can be seen online.

Volunteer attorneys from Fish & Richardson based in Dallas appear to handling the affairs of the praise club. Lawyer Carl Bruce is representing the praise club officially.