Because Liberty Counsel, which fought the first case to the Supreme Court and won, and has never since lost a case involving that precedent, is back in court.

Officials with the organization say they have sued on behalf of Child Evangelism Fellowship of Hawaii. The defendants are the state education department and superintendents in multiple districts.

They are accused of being in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, state laws, and school policies "by discriminating against and blocking CEF from hosting its elementary school Good News Clubs in certain district facilities that are open to other, similarly situated non-religious organizations." Liberty Counsel reported.

The international clubs "positively impact the lives of children and their families. Good News Clubs typically meet once per week, immediately after school, and are led by trained and vetted local community volunteers. The clubs provide religious and other teaching and activities to encourage learning, spiritual growth, and service to others, as well as social, emotional, character, and leadership development," the legal team explained.

There are nearly 3,100 such clubs meeting in schools now, including some in other Hawaii locations.

The newest front in the battle for religious freedom developed because such clubs were closed down during COVID. But after COVID, when secular clubs were being allowed to resume, Good News Clubs remained banned.

CEF had asked for permission for clubs in Nu’uanu Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Waimea Elementary, Kalihi Waena Elementary, Kohala Elementary School, and Pearl City Elementary.

But state education bureaucrats denied every request even while allowing secular clubs to resume activities, Liberty Counsel said.

School officials blatantly told club organizers they could not meet because they were "religious." Sometimes they claimed there already were too many clubs, and others simply said they didn't like them.

A few times, the bureaucrats tasked with and paid for operating the schools properly didn't even bother to respond.

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver explained the Supreme Court's decision means schools "cannot discriminate against Christian viewpoints regarding use of school facilities. Child Evangelism Fellowship gives children a biblically based education that includes moral and character development. Good News Clubs should be in every public elementary school and that includes in these Hawaii schools."

That ruling dates to June 2001 and involved a Good News Club and the Milford Central School District. It said public schools violate the Constitution by not providing equal access and treatment to Christian clubs.