Obituary: Edward Schempp

One of the most important figures in the early battles to ensure the separation of church and state in public schools has died. Edward L. Schempp, age 95, was a social activist and regular churchgoer at a local Unitarian congregation. He died in California of heart failure.

Edward Schempp was the father of Ellery Schempp who, while a junior at Abington High School, decided that he wanted to challenge the mandatory reading of passages from the Bible in homeroom. His parents were supportive and, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer, On November 26, 1956 Ellery decided to read passages from the Koran instead of the Bible; that earned him a trip to the principal's office. He asked for help from the American Civil Liberties Union, launching the legal case of School District of Abington Township v. Schempp which would not be decided until 1963

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that "In addition to his wife of 69 years, and son and daughter, Mr. Schempp is survived by another son, Roger; a brother; and two sisters." The Schempp family endured no small amount of vitriol and attacks for their decision to stand up for religious liberty, but all of us now enjoy greater freedom because of the sacrifices made by them and people like them.