The sexual health foundation Rutgers has won its case against the ultra-conservative Catholic organisation Civitas Christiana for spreading lies about a primary school programme designed to teach children about relationships, sexuality, and setting personal boundaries.

The judge’s decision means the organisation must immediately stop the distribution of a publication in which Rutgers is connected with pedophilia.

It must also remove “spurious claims” about the Lentekriebels programme, which it said pushes LGBT propaganda and aims to “normalise homosexuality,” and trivialise abortion.

“This case was not about a difference of opinion about how to raise children but about spreading fake news which puts children in danger instead of protecting them,” Rutgers co-director Luc Lauwers said.

The week of the Lentekriebels (spring fever week) is an annual national programme in which children learn about relationships and sexuality and setting boundaries. Schools are not under any obligation to take part in the programme.

Civitas Christiana has been spreading misinformation about the programme for several years.

“Civitas Christiana is within its rights to criticise Rutgers’ educational material but what they cannot do is spread factually untrue comments. They are quoting from the material but are doing so in an incomplete, incorrect and possibly misleading way. And that is illegal,” the judge said.

Civitas Christiana said on its website it will continue to protest against the programme “within the boundaries of the verdict” but has not removed the claims from a petition to ban the programme.

Rutgers hailed the verdict as “an important step in countering disinformation, the spreading of lies and online hate.”