The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has struck another blow for religious freedom in America. This time, they have filed suit against a public school in Louisiana.
They have had to file suit against this Tangipahoa Parish school four times in the past. Evidently the people in that parish have a real hard time understanding the concept of religious freedom.
A lot of evangelical christians think our public schools are nothing more than a recruiting ground for their twisted view of religion. These same people would be horrified if another religion tried to force their views on their school children, but they see nothing wrong with doing it themselves.
They are being taken to court this time because they were passing out Gideon Bibles to all elementary students in school during school hours. The lawsuit tells of the entire fifth-grade class being lined up in front of the school office during school hours, where each was given a Bible and told "God bless you".
The ACLU was approached by some parents who said their daughter was placed in a situation where she felt coerced into taking the Bible out of a fear of being criticized, ridiculed or ostracized if she did not.
Joe Cook, executive director of Louisiana's ACLU, said, "School officials in Tangipahoa Parish habitually show disdain for the Constitution, while disrespecting the right of parents, who happen to be Catholic in this case, to choose the religious tradition in which to raise their children."
It is time that evangelicals learn that students with many different religious backgrounds (including no religious background) are forced by law to attend a public school. The parents of these children have the right to teach their children their own traditions (including religion) without interference from others. That is what religious freedom is all about.
But many evangelicals don't seem to understand this. They have somehow gotten the idea that religious freedom means they can force their religion on others and the children of others.
Thank goodness we have the ACLU to stand up for our Constitution and our freedoms.
