Written by Don ByrdIn Oregon, more parents citing religious reasons are opting out of vaccinations for their kndergarten-aged children than in any other state in the U.S. The state senate, concerned that non-medical exemptions have become too common, has responded by passing a law that would require parents to be made aware of the medical benefits of vaccination. The purpose of the regulation is to encourage vaccination thorough awareness. But many are concerned that the result is to stifle religious liberty.
Written by Don ByrdLast week, the House Armed Services Committee voted on amendments to the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act. Amendments that passed included one that allows service members to express personal beliefs provided they do not cause actual harm to others or are restricted by military necessity (current law disallows expression that “threatens” to harm others). Another deals with the contentious issue of chaplain prayers.
Written by Don ByrdBy now, you have probably seen or heard about video of the ripped-up graduation speech in South Carolina. There, a student speaker defied the rules and led a prayer instead of giving his approved remarks. I’ve already reached my yearly quota of graduation prayer rants. But please indulge me just a couple of thoughts to sum up my reaction.
Graduation is a time of celebration for students, families, teachers and school officials. Every student who earns a diploma deserves that moment of recognition for the hard work it represents. At public school commencements, we gather as a community across economic, racial, ethnic and religious divides to celebrate together. Each student and family brings their own story of accomplishment leading to that ceremony. A great triumph of American public education is that regardless of a student’s background, a diploma is achievable.
Written by Don ByrdThe Ohio House Education Committee is set to consider legislation that would authorize public schools to allow students release time for religious education off campus. HB 171 specifies students must provide their own transportation, and that no public funds may be used to support the courses. Students would receive school credit for the courses.
Written by Don ByrdThe Louisiana legislature has passed a bill that would complicate the issue of organized student prayer at school. HB 724 requires schools to provide space on request to students who wish to pray before or after the school day, or during the school day’s non-instructional time.
Students are of course already free to pray on their own or in groups in a non-disruptive way during non-instructional time. The space requirement appears to essentially raises any impromptu prayer gathering to the level of a school club in terms of access to meeting space. One other element of the bill causes more concern in my mind…
Written by Don ByrdBaptist writer, minister, activist and icon Will D. Campbell died yesterday at the age of 88. He was a staunch advocate for the Baptist heritage of church-state separation. In an interview with the Wittenburg Door to discuss the re-release of his novel The Glad River, Campbell said this…
