My name is Ethel Hermenau, and I serve on the Galloway School Board; however, I am not speaking on behalf of the school board or Liberty and Prosperity. The views expressed here are solely my own as a mother, grandmother, and citizen.
On the evening of May 11th, 2026, which falls on a Monday at 6:30 PM (please mark your calendars), New Life Assembly, in collaboration with Ethel Hermenau and the United for Life group, will host an event designed to educate and empower parents on how to protect their children and uphold their religious convictions.
The lineup of speakers will feature:
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Shawn Hyland from the NJ Family Policy Center
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Karyn White, Esq. from the Pacific Justice Institute
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Seth Grossman from Liberty and Prosperity
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Ethel Hermenau representing the Prolife Ministry and United for Life Coalition
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Pastor Kevin Bernat
(Immediately following speakers there will be a Meet & Greet w/refreshments)
Do you think the State should tell you how to raise your children? Do you think the schools have the right to keep secrets from you as parents? Do you agree to give over your rights when you drop your kids off at school?
If you answered “NO” to any of the above questions, then you need to be at this Event on May 11th, 2026. Event starts at 6:30 at New Life Assembly, 5071 Fernwood Avenue, Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234.
It is important for every parent and grandparent to participate in order to comprehend the new laws being enacted and the policies being introduced in their local schools. Many parents are unaware of their rights and lack the knowledge on how to effectively advocate for their beliefs and their children. We are here to assist!
This seminar may prove to be the most informative session you will encounter for some time regarding the operations of schools. While schools strive to do their best, the enactment of state laws that influence policy ultimately impacts the school first and then policies are put into place which affect your children, you, and your entire family.
(SEE MAY 11TH, 2026 EVENT FLYER BELOW STARTS AT 6:30) PLEASE COME OUT!
https://canva.link/zl7m921on9uc8jz
Below are events that will and are changing the course for the better for Parental Rights despite the relentless attacks by the State of New Jersey.
Thomas More Society’s Suit Against Westwood Regional School District
Thomas More Society, a national public interest law firm, filed its federal court litigation against the Westwood Regional School District in March 2026. This action was taken after the district failed to rescind its Policy 5756, which Thomas More Society argued violated constitutional rights affirmed in the Supreme Court’s Mirabelli v. Bonta decision on March 2, 2026 Thomas More Society.
The suit sought an injunction against the district, similar to the one obtained in Mirabelli, to stop the enforcement of the policy that requires school staff to conceal children’s gender changes from parents and to facilitate “social transitions” without parental consent Thomas More Society. The firm’s letter to the Westwood Board of Education, sent on March 25, 2026, gave the board 20 days to comply; when it did not, Thomas More Society moved forward with litigation Thomas More Society.
In summary: The Thomas More Society’s suit was initiated in March 2026, following the district’s non-compliance with the firm’s demand to rescind the contested policy.
READ THE ARTICLE FROM THE THOMAS MOORE SOCIETY BELOW: TMS Demands New Jersey School District Rescind Unconstitutional “Gender Secrecy” Policy in Wake of Landmark Supreme Court Ruling
“No school district has a right to secretly ‘transition’ children to another gender,” said Christopher Ferrara, Senior Counsel at Thomas More Society. “Parents send their children to school every day trusting that the district is in partnership with them—not working around them. Policy 5756 destroys that trust. It builds a wall of secrecy between parents and their own children on one of the most consequential decisions a family can face, and it does so by design. That is not a school policy; that is a betrayal.”
https://aclj.org/school-choice/mahmoud-v-taylor-momentous-win-for-parental-rights
ON JUNE 27, 2025, ,THE SUPREME COURT RULING HAS NOW LED A PATH FOR PARENTS TO BE MORE PROACIVE IN THEIR CHILDRENS EDUCATON.
Mahmoud v. Taylor, 606 U.S. 522 (2025), is a United States Supreme Court case about parents who wished to opt their children out of instruction involving LGBTQ-themed storybooks in a Maryland public school system. The Court held that the school district’s policy of not permitting opt-outs violated the parents’ right to free exercise of religion under the First Amendment.[1][2]
Below is AI generated to give a complete picture for easy reading:
Overview of Mahmoud v. Taylor (2025)In Mahmoud v. Taylor, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) in Maryland violated the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause by revoking parents’ right to opt their children out of reading “LGBTQ+-inclusive” storybooks in elementary school Wikipedia+1.
Background
- In 2022, MCPS added several LGBTQ+-themed children’s books to its English/Language Arts curriculum for grades pre-K through 5 Wikipedia.
- Initially, the district allowed parents to opt their children out if they objected on religious grounds.
- In March 2023, MCPS changed its policy to no longer permit any opt-outs, citing concerns about absenteeism, administrative feasibility, and potential stigma Wikipedia.
- The opt-out requests came from parents of Ukrainian Orthodox, Catholic, and Muslim faiths, who objected to the books’ themes, which included same-sex relationships, transgender identities, and pronoun use UW School of Law+1.
Legal Issue
The parents argued that the district’s refusal to allow opt-outs burdened their religious exercise under the First Amendment, which protects the right to raise children in accordance with one’s faith UW School of Law+1.
The school district argued it was creating an inclusive, affirming classroom environment by exposing students to diverse identities UW School of Law.Court’s Decision
- Holding: The Court held that the district’s policy violated the Free Exercise Clause because it substantially interfered with the religious upbringing of children whose parents objected to the books Wikipedia+1.
- Reasoning: The Court applied a heightened “strict scrutiny” standard when government action threatens to undermine a parent’s religious beliefs, even if the policy is neutral and generally applicable Congress.gov.
- Outcome: Parents are entitled to a preliminary injunction allowing them to opt their children out of instruction involving the contested books Wikipedia.
Significance
- The ruling reaffirms parental rights to control the religious upbringing of their children, even in public schools Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty.
- It sets a nationwide precedent: when public schools include instructional materials on sensitive topics like gender and sexuality, they must accommodate sincere religious objections by offering and respecting opt-out rights Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty.
- The decision does not require schools to remove or censor inclusive content; it focuses on accommodating religious objections SIECUS.
In short: Mahmoud v. Taylor is a landmark First Amendment case affirming that public schools cannot block opt-outs for religiously objectionable materials, ensuring parents can protect their children’s religious beliefs in the class
So great things are happening across the Country even in NJ, however, we live in New Jersey a State where our Governor said before elected ” Sherrill: I would push an LGBTQ education into our schools”
https://savejersey.com/2025/09/sherrilli-would-push-an-lgbtq-education-into-our-schools/
This article contains a video in which she expresses her opinion that, in this context, she does not believe (she doesn’t ” feel” was the right word) that parents should have the option to opt out their children. However, Governor, it is likely that every parent who values God and family would disagree with such a one-sided assertion, and we are not concerned with your feelings.
Numerous instances exist in which parents are resisting, yet regrettably, the majority of individuals will remain unaware of these narratives as they do not hold significance for our media, and even more troubling, for our political leaders. Here are a few examples; kindly take the time to read these accounts.
Roxbury High School librarian’s defamation lawsuit tossed by judge | News | newjerseyhills.com
It seems that wherever we turn, New Jersey is evident in our parents’ homes and in educational institutions, guiding them on the appropriate actions to take and the methods to educate their offspring. By paying close attention to the laws, one can discern the trajectory of the educational system and the future prospects for their children.
Who do you serve? As for my house, I serve the Lord our God!
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“The right of parents to direct the upbringing of their children is among the unalienable rights with which the Declaration of Independence proclaims ‘all Men are endowed by their Creator’” — is not a direct quotation from the original Declaration of Independence.
The Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776, states:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”
Join us in solidarity to advocate for religious freedom and to safeguard our children against the overreach of our schools and state. Together, we the people are more powerful!
MAY 11TH, 2026 AT 6:30
NEW LIFE ASSEMBLY, 5071 FERNWOOD DRIVE, EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, NJ
