February 2017 Church & State - February 2016

S.C. Bill Would Allow Teachers To Pray With Students

  AU admin

A bill filed in the South Carolina legislature would allow public school teachers in the state to initiate and participate in religious activities with students, including praying with them, participating in religious clubs on campus and more.

H3345, proposed by state Reps. Bill Chumley, Mike Burns and Stephen Long, states that the bill would “promote academic freedom for public school teachers.”

But religious freedom advocates say that the proposed law clearly violates the First Amendment and if passed, would allow public school teachers to endorse a specific religion and impose their personal religious beliefs in the classroom.

The U.S. Supreme Court deemed public school and state-sponsored prayer unconstitutional in two landmark cases, Engel v. Vitale (1962) and Abington School District v. Schempp (1963).

It is yet to be seen if this proposed bill will gain traction. It is currently pending in a committee.

BREAKING NEWS

Americans United & the National Women’s Law Center file suit to challenge Missouri’s abortion bans.

Abortion bans violate the separation of church and state. Americans United and the National Women’s Law Center—the leading experts in religious freedom and gender justice—have joined forces with thirteen clergy from six faith traditions to challenge Missouri’s abortion bans as unconstitutionally imposing one narrow religious doctrine on everyone.


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