Religious rights groups are incensed at “blatant assault on religious freedom in Cali (moral, beliefs)

[Quiddity]

Religious rights groups are incensed at “blatant assault on religious freedom in California”
Sacramento, Aug. 29, 2006 (CNA) - California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law yesterday, Senate Bill 1441, a bill that would potentially remove state assistance from organizations which stand-by religious beliefs deemed discriminatory towards homosexuals, bisexuals, transsexuals, and the like. The bill is being assailed by groups who say that the bill violates their first amendment rights by penalizing them for holding certain religious beliefs.

In a press release, the Sacramento-based Capitol Resource Institute pointed out that the bill, “will prevent parochial schools, such as private, Christian, Catholic, Mormon, and many other religious universities, from receiving student financial assistance if they also maintain a student code of conduct preventing behavior deemed immoral by their religious beliefs.”

“Forcing private education institutions to accept students engaged in behavior offensive to the school’s moral code is a serious infringement of the constitutional rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of speech,” the statement said.

Karen England, Executive Director of Capitol Resource Institute, said that the legislation “is an outright, blatant assault on religious freedom in California.”

“This bill is yet another attempt to prevent citizens with moral and religious principles from expressing their beliefs and educating their children according to those beliefs,” continued England. “On behalf of California families, private schools, and other private organizations, I express our outrage at this attack on our freedom.”

The release also worried about the effect a lack of scholarship support would have on society. “By withholding state funding from schools, students’ educational opportunities will be severely limited,” the communiqué continued. “And limiting educational opportunities will result in a less diverse, less educated citizenry.”

In addition to concerns voiced for religious freedom, many disagree with the bill’s adding of the all-inclusive term “sexuality” to a list of characteristics upon which a person cannot be discriminated.

“As a citizen of California and a religious person, I am terribly disappointed in Governor Schwarzenegger,” stated Meredith Turney, Legislative Liaison for Capitol Resource Institute. “It is bad public policy to add to the list of protected classes a sexual behavior. Equating sexual preference with the immutable characteristics of age, national origin, or race will result in other variable behaviors being added to the list of invariable classes rightfully protected.”

Randy Thomasson, president of Campaign for Children and Families (CCF), a leading California-based pro-family organization, said that he and his associates blame Governor Schwarzenegger for not standing for their rights. “He speaks at churches and says he believes in religious freedom and family values, yet he’s stabbing pro-family Californians in the back. People of faith are suffering under Arnold Schwarzenegger.”

[YamiB.]

I'm wondering why it is that religiously based schools should be getting funding from the government. I always thought that the trade off was no state-funding in exchange for being religious.

I think it is a good idea to deny schools funding if they are discriminatory as well.
I think that it was done poorly if it was only affecting groups that discriminated for religious reassons. But I think I agree with the general idea.

[Quiddity]

Originally Posted by YamiB.

I'm wondering why it is that religiously based schools should be getting funding from the government. I always thought that the trade off was no state-funding in exchange for being religious.

I think it is a good idea to deny schools funding if they are discriminatory as well.
I think that it was done poorly if it was only affecting groups that discriminated for religious reassons. But I think I agree with the general idea.

That's fine. If any anti-religious rhetoric is spewed from public schools or anything showing the disbelief in God should the same be done in your opinion?

[YamiB.]

Since public schools are under state control I would favor removing the people in charge. I would much rather just change schools for the better than have them shut down.

I don't know what you mean by showing the disbelief of God. Public schools are not a place to indoctrinate individuals into a religion.

[Quiddity]

Originally Posted by YamiB.

Since public schools are under state control I would favor removing the people in charge. I would much rather just change schools for the better than have them shut down.

I don't know what you mean by showing the disbelief of God. Public schools are not a place to indoctrinate individuals into a religion.

I know it's not, but some teachers indoctrinate individuals with anti-religious views. Would you be ok with this?

[YamiB.]

Originally Posted by Victor

I know it's not, but some teachers indoctrinate individuals with anti-religious views. Would you be ok with this?

Of course not. The only thing I would worry about is that some people would twist such a policy to attack things that do belong in school such as evolution.

[Quiddity]

Originally Posted by YamiB.

Of course not. The only thing I would worry about is that some people would twist such a policy to attack things that do belong in school such as evolution.

I agree. That is without question a topic for school.

[YamiB.]

Originally Posted by Victor

I agree. That is without question a topic for school.

I do think that religion should not be completely cut out of school though. I think it is a valuable subject to be educated on. If only so that it will help people to better understand people who belong to those other religions.

I just don't support trying to push people into a paticular religion. But I would like to have a widespread movement of offering comperative religion classes in schools. On a personal note about this I would love to teach such a class once I'm a teacher.

[Quiddity]

Originally Posted by YamiB.

I do think that religion should not be completely cut out of school though. I think it is a valuable subject to be educated on. If only so that it will help people to better understand people who belong to those other religions.

I just don't support trying to push people into a paticular religion. But I would like to have a widespread movement of offering comperative religion classes in schools. On a personal note about this I would love to teach such a class once I'm a teacher.

I'm moving this to the Political Debates area.

The problem Yami is that these schools are not indoctrinating kids who's parents disagree with the particular religion. They are private schools with a known set of tenets. And aside from the tenets, they teach your every day general education classes.

[YamiB.]

Originally Posted by Victor

I'm moving this to the Political Debates area.

The problem Yami is that these schools are not indoctrinating kids who's parents disagree with the particular religion. They are private schools with a known set of tenets. And aside from the tenets, they teach your every day general education classes.

I don't have a problem with the private schools indoctrinating kids with religion. It only came up in refrence to public schools.

The thing I have a problem with the private schools doing is not allowing certian students based on a policy of discrimination. At the very least I do not think the state should provide any support for such schools.