Pastors Stand For Religious Liberty
Pastors Stand For Religious Liberty!
The fringe right wing of our state and nation wishes to take over the public trust for their own private interests. They want you to pay for their private education through vouchers, and seek many other transfers of wealth from the public to their own pockets.
Nowhere is this corruption more egregious than the many violations we see today of our God-given religious liberty and the American principle of church/state separation.
And the place in our society where they seek this control is your local public school.
The Texas Legislature has pushed through a raft of Christian Nationalist bills pertaining to public education which are designed to marginalize any Texan who does not subscribe to their political and religious point of view:
Required daily Bible reading in classrooms
Required Ten Commandments posting
Bluebonnet Curriculum with specific religious content
And now an issue that hasn't garnered as much attention-- the measure passed last legislative session that allows public school children to engage in off-campus religious instruction during class time. LifeWise Academy is the most prominent of these private programs. We believe they discriminate against children who do not participate in these activities, as well as violate the public trust of Texas taxpayers who do not want their schools indoctrinating children.
This expose by CBS News Texas by Kelsey Mittauer explains how, click here to view. Be sure to watch the video clip as well. We are featured prominently in the story.
Rev. Charles Johnson, who leads a nonprofit called Pastors for Texas Children, says churches play an important role in supporting schools, students and teachers, but the law approaches it in the wrong way.
"What you're doing is creating an environment where, people that don't subscribe to that viewpoint that got that bill passed, they become discriminated against. That's exactly what's going to happen in these schools," he said.
"I do think that children ought to learn the history of religion," Johnson said. "But you present it in a way that is non-sectarian, and that does not use the authority of the school to advance a particular, specific religious point of view. That is for the home and the congregation."
As you know, Pastors for Texas Children has been at the forefront of the fight to preserve religious liberty in our public school classrooms and to protect our children from outside extremist religious influences that seek to proselytize them.
We are privileged to partner with national partners like Americans United for the Separation of Church and State and BJC in this work.
We were founded and grounded in the conviction that religious teaching belongs in the voluntary assemblies of congregations-- not in the compulsory institutions of public schools. This has been our guiding value since our inception. And will always be.
North Texas Giving is NOW!
PTC is thankful to participate again this year in North Texas Giving Day. From August 27th to September 17th, the Communities Foundation of Texas, donors, and sponsors ensure that 100% of online donations made through NorthTexasGivingDay.org go directly to nonprofits year‑round, with all fees covered.
Public Education is on the Ballot
With over 1.2 million voters "suspended" in Texas as we approach early voting season. Please double check your registration and encourage others to do so!
Important Election Dates
Early Voting: Oct. 19–30
Election Day: Tuesday, November 3
Whether you vote early or on Election Day, make a plan to cast your ballot. Click here to find your local polling location.
PO Box 471155, Fort Worth, Texas, 76147
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