Opinion
Bills endanger religious freedom
By Elaine Williamson, President, Mainstream Loudoun
[Feb. 5, 2002] After the tragic events of Sept. 11, American citizens have set aside political differences and are standing united against terrorism. However, as this wave of patriotism rides high, it threatens to sweep away our fundamental right to freedom of religion.
Why? Because citizens fear being ostracized if they speak out against any activity that is couched in patriotic terms.
Two bills have been proposed in the Virginia General Assembly that will pit believers against unbelievers and the majority religion against minority religions. We cannot sit idly by and let these bills become law. Our nation's fundamental sense of fairness impels us to create laws that respect persons of all faiths or of no faith.
One bill, HB 161, directs the Board of Education to develop guidelines regarding the posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools and authorizes local school boards to post them based on these guidelines. One lawmaker stated that this must be done in a "primarily secular" manner. This is a bogus argument. The Commandments can already be posted in a secular manner while studying religion in social studies, philosophy, literature and comparative religion courses.
HB 161 is a blatant attempt to promote specific religious behavior in public school, since the first three, or four depending on the version, commandments deal with religious worship. Furthermore, there are many different versions of the Commandments Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, to name a few so whichever one was posted would unconstitutionally sanction one religion over the others.
A second bill, HB 108, requires "all school boards to post the statement, 'In God We Trust,' prominently, and in a conspicuous place, in each of their schools for all students to read."
This motto is clearly religious in nature, and constitutes a religious statement of faith aimed at impressionable youngsters who are a captive audience. No child, or teacher, should be made to feel uncomfortable about his or her religious beliefs or lack thereof in our public schools.
The argument that the motto appears on money is not applicable. Legal scholars note that governments have some leeway to engage in activities that might not be constitutional at public schools (e.g. paid chaplains).
Our country's original motto, "E Pluribus Unum" (from many, one) was adopted by our founding fathers in 1782 and can be found on our National Seal (and our dollar bill). "In God We Trust" did not become our motto until the mid-1950's when the country was under the grip of the communist/McCarthy paranoia. If legislators think that the posting of mottoes and creeds are needed to promote patriotism and unity, lets urge them to select one that won't divide us along religious lines. The Bill of Rights or our original motto would be a great compromise that we can all live with.
Public schools are for education, not the promotion of a particular religious belief.
- extreme. ineffective. dick black.