Contact: Thomas Ciesielka, Thomas More Society, 312-403-1333

CHICAGO, Nov. 13 /Christian Newswire/ -- Mauck & Baker, LLC, and the Thomas More Society in Chicago announced that they reached an out-of-court settlement after joining forces to preserve the constitutional right of Moody Bible student Matthew Rivera and his classmates to share the message of Jesus on Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) train platforms.

In July, Rivera was told by a CTA security guard that he could not preach at a subway platform without a permit. He was told he would need to pay a $10 fee, wear a badge and do his preaching in a small designated area where he may or may not have an audience. Rather than risk arrest, Rivera stopped talking about God and offering people reading material. Another Moody student with Rivera was also evangelizing on the platform. He was told that his Texas driver's license was not acceptable identification to obtain a permit and that he would need an Illinois license or ID card to be licensed.

Mauck & Baker attorney John Mauck exchanged communications with Eugene Munin, the CTA's first deputy general counsel, seeking a peaceful accommodation. Mauck convinced Munin to send a letter confirming that preaching is allowed on the platforms and not subject to licensure. Mauck emphasized that it is important to be able to preach where people congregate and have a few moments to consider and/or discuss God's message. He explained how the First Amendment protects evangelism. Munin acquiesced; he provided a letter that clearly states that "preaching" does not constitute "oration" (which requires licensure under a CTA ordinance), thereby confirming that Rivera and those who wish to spread the truth of the Gospel will be able to continue to preach without fear of arrest.

Rivera, Moody Bible Institute students, Jews for Jesus and other groups who wish to evangelize should now carry both the letter from the CTA and a supplemental letter from Mauck & Baker with them to avoid problems in the event that CTA security personnel or Chicago police should again mistakenly assert that they "need a license" to preach about Jesus.

Mauck said, "Our objective is always to preserve and extend the freedom to communicate the great message of God's love rather than litigate. This experience with the CTA demonstrates that sometimes good communication and good will on both sides can avoid costly and time consuming court battles."

James 3:18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

About the Thomas More Society, Chicago
The Thomas More Society, based in Chicago, is a public interest law firm that counsels and defends those who work to protect innocent human life, defends those who proclaim faith-based values in our nation's public square, and strives to protect the institution of marriage as a union of man and woman formed to beget, bear and nurture new human lives. Thomas More Society successfully defended the nationwide class action lawsuit, NOW v. Scheidler, winning successive U.S. Supreme Court victories (8-1, 2003; 8-0, 2006). For more information, please visit: www.thomasmoresociety.org.