The following articlewas originally published in the Ohio Capital Journal and published on News5Cleveland.com under a content-sharing agreement.
The most notable in that line is Lemon v. Kurtzman, which set forth a three-part test. To pass muster, a law must have a secular purpose, not advance or inhibit religion and not create excessive government entanglement. But after the U.S. Supreme Court’s rightward lurch, that test has been largely abandoned.
They argued courts have upheld chaplains in settings like prisons, hospitals and the armed forces because people have limited access to religious services otherwise. The coalition argued students are in a different boat. They add that students come from many different faiths, but choosing a chaplain will “inherently give preference to particular denominations.”
“A pilot program launches in 2022,” the funding pitch continues. “It will cost more per disciple than the international program which is why we need your help. Would you agree that it is time for the God of the Bible to come back to U.S. schools? Invest in the lives of children by bringing them the hope that is only found in Christ Jesus.”Stoltzfus didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
DiMauro also expressed concern about the motives evinced by Texas lawmakers. He noted lawmakers rejected an amendment barring religious proselytizing and requiring parental consent.