The Kansas secretary of state's office has acknowledged in a court document that it sporadically hosts Bible study sessions, but has denied firing an employee for not attending them.
Its court filing Friday comes in response to the federal civil lawsuit filed last month by Courtney Canfield claiming she was terminated from her clerk's job after declining to attend prayer services held in the office.
The state told the court in its response that all were welcome to attend the sessions, but no staff member was required to attend.
It noted that the majority of the staff did not attend them.
Courtney alleges in her lawsuit that invitations to the religious services were distributed during normal business hours and included a "prayer guide" to be used at that week's service.
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