Charles C. Haynes, senior scholar at the First Amendment Center, brought this to my attention in an op-ed piece he wrote. "It's not every day that a school board votes unanimously to ignore legal advice, defy Supreme Court precedent and invite litigation.
"But that's exactly what happened recently in Giles County, Va., when
members of the board ordered school administrators to hang the Ten Commandments on the walls of the county's five public schools. Rehang, actually." (http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011302030005)Mob mentality ruled the day. "Many county residents were not happy (about legal counsel directing the commandments be removed). At the school board meeting on Jan. 20, hundreds of people demanded that the Ten Commandments be returned to schoolhouse walls — and the board enthusiastically agreed. The next day, the commandments went back up.
"According to The Roanoke Times, one resident told the board: 'You have a moral obligation to do what is right. Do not let our children be deprived of this right — a God-given right.' The crowd cheered and shouted 'Amen.'”
Haynes went on to question how hanging the Ten Commandments in a school is a "God-given right." He cites two Supreme Court decisions that barred favoring one religion over others in schools and other government institutions. "Giles County officials appear determined to promote the majority faith in public schools, even if it means fighting an expensive (and futile) court battle."
What's the point? Practice religion in your home or even on a street corner, but you can't in public schools. I love and worship God. But proselytizing in a tax-supported place is a smoldering crisis sure to happen. If you in your organization draw a line like this in the sand, you better be sure you have the law on your side or else you're inviting trouble.
No comments:
Post a Comment