PITTSBORO - Lynn Webster was driving her son and his friends to a hockey game Friday night when she overheard them talking about a murderer visiting their high school.

That's when she learned a speaker from a Christian organization had told students she'd murdered three children by having abortions while she was a drug addict.

The organization, Teen Challenge, was paid by several area churches to speak at Chatham's middle and high schools last week about abstinence and the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

Now, some Northwood High School parents want to meet with school officials.

And a Duke University constitutional law expert says the assemblies violated the First Amendment.

"The biggest issue to me is what are [school officials] thinking, bringing in any group grounded in religion?" said Webster, whose freshman son attended the Northwood assembly last week.

Northwood Principal Carrie Little confirmed that Debby DiBianca of Teen Challenge used the word murder when she talked about her three abortions and five miscarriages. But Little said the presentation, which also included songs and dance, was not religious.

"There were no religious undertones," she said.

Teen Challenge is a national organization that provides recovery services for young alcoholics and drug addicts. According to its Web site, the programs are "founded on the teachings of Jesus Christ."

"Instead of 'dope' pushers, Teen Challenge ministries are serving as 'hope' pushers," the site says.

The organization runs treatment centers across the country, including one near Carthage, N.C. Sal and Debby DiBianca, the couple who lead the Carthage program, also travel the state for presentations where Debby DiBianca, a graduate of the program, shares her story.

"We basically educate students to stay alcohol free," using personal experiences, Sal DiBianca said.

They also speak about abstinence, he said.

"We tell them to save themselves until marriage," he said. They don't push antiabortion messages or proselytize in schools, he said. He could not recall his wife using the word murder.

Erwin Chemerinsky, a Duke law professor and constitutional scholar, said requiring students to attend an assembly with a Christian organization "clearly violates the First Amendment," which says government cannot favor one religion over another.

"If they want to provide an after-school program," that is fine, he said. "But to have a required assembly where a religious group delivers a religious message -- even in part -- violates the First Amendment."

Webster says she wants the school to adopt a policy that prohibits religious organizations from coming to the schools.

There are plenty of secular substance abuse programs, she said. Plus, "the message my son got ... was abortion is bad even though it was 60 minutes on don't do drugs."

Churches paid tab

Webster, who has received e-mail from parents also upset about the assembly, has asked Little to meet with them and the superintendent. But, she said, Little told her she's busy the next few weeks and suggested Webster take it up with the school board.

Superintendent Ann Hart did not return calls seeking comment, but a school spokeswoman said Hart approved the group's appearances, as did the principals.

George Greger-Holt, Chatham's Safe Schools counselor, said he attended the assembly at Chatham Central High School and did not hear any religious references.

"They told their stories, which aren't pretty, and they aren't pretty for a reason," he said.

DiBianca mentioned her abortions, Greger-Holt said, "but it was in the context of 'I was young and making bad choices.' "

Greger-Holt said Teen Challenge was allowed to speak because it approached school officials and the program was free to the schools.

"I get things all the time from people who want to talk to students, but they cost $1,000," Greger-Holt said. "We have no money. Unfortunately, when someone approaches us, and we have good reviews, there would be no reason not to have them come."

Several area churches picked up Teen Challenge's tab, said Brian Sandifer, the pastor at Oakley Baptist Church in Siler City.

But he wouldn't say how much the churches were paying Teen Challenge for the school assemblies.