AROUND THE STATES

Church & State, Sep 2004

Americans Oppose 'Christian Nation' Amendment, Poll Finds

A nationwide poll released in late July showed strong opposition to a constitutional amendment declaring that America is a Christian nation.

That same survey, however, also revealed widespread support for teaching creationism in public schools and displaying religious symbols, such as the Ten Commandments, on public property.

The poll, conducted by a California consulting firm, found that 66 percent of Americans are against a constitutional amendment "to establish Christianity as the official religion of the United States." Thirty-two percent favor it.

While the public at large opposed the amendment, evangelical Christians were for it. The survey found that 66 percent of evangelicals favored the proposal.

The Barna Group, an agency with a conservative religious orientation, also revealed that 79 percent oppose removing Ten Commandments displays from public buildings; 84 percent oppose removing "In God We Trust" from currency; 84 percent oppose removing "Under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance; and 59 percent favor teaching creationism in public schools.

AmeriCorps Can't Subsidize Indoctrination, Court Rules

Teachers and instructional aides may not be placed in religious schools to teach religion and engage in sectarian activities with students as part of a federally funded community service program, a federal court has held.

U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler of Washington, D.C., ruled July 2 that teachers compensated through the AmeriCorps Education Awards Program may not lead religious activities at parochial schools.

AmeriCorps is a national program that sends participants into communities to serve in areas such as education, public safety, health and environment. After serving for 10-12 months, participants receive a $4,725 education award, which can be used for college expenses or to pay off student loans.

Kessler noted that it is undisputed that the AmeriCorps program "offers program participants a national service education award...to work in religious schools where they teach religion to their students throughout the school day, lead their students in prayer multiple times a day, and attend Mass with their students."

The American Jewish Congress filed suit against the Corporation for National and Community Service, which administers AmeriCorps' education division, in 2002, arguing that the program was being used to advance religion in violation of the First Amendment.

In her American Jewish Congress v. Corporation for National and Community Service ruling, Kessler agreed, holding that the program "results in impermissible government indoctrination in violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment."

Maryland Legislator Attacks Senior Center Dissenter

A Maryland woman has come under attack by a state delegate after raising concerns about Christian prayers before meals at a senior center.

Margaret Sayre, a 70-year-old attendee at the Brooklyn Park Senior Center, objected to the use of Christian prayer before each meal. According to The Maryland Gazette, she inquired about the constitutionality of the practice with the state Department of Aging, as well as with American Atheists, a national advocacy group.

The newspaper reported in July that state Del. Don Dwyer Jr. became aware of Sayre's objection and wrote a letter to her in which he suggested that Sayre "leave my people alone."

"If the atheist (sic) of Maryland want something different then I would suggest building an atheist Senior Center where you won't have to hear any prayers but leave my people alone," wrote Dwyer in a March 15 letter.

American Atheists released a statement in late June decrying Dwyer's action.

"This is not Christianity versus atheism, it's about government being neutral in terms of religion and a representative treating constituents with the respect they deserve," the American Atheists statement read.

Dwyer told the Gazette that he couldn't understand the basis for Sayre's objection.

"There is no separation of church and state in the Constitution that the atheists profess it to be," he said.

South Dakota Library Censorship Criticized

After complaints by a Catholic bishop, South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds has ordered the removal from a state website of a link to a website providing information on abortion for teenagers.

In late July, the Argus Leader, a Sioux Falls daily, reported that Rounds urged the state Library Board to remove from its website a link to Planned Parenthood's teenwire.com website, which provides sexual health information. The newspaper reported that Rounds ordered the alteration after Sioux Falls Catholic Bishop Robert Carlson wrote to the governor in May asking him to yank the link from the state library's web page.

"Separation of church and state does not require separation between belief and public action," the bishop told the Argus Leader. "If my values conflict with things that are out there, then I can, in a public sector, present my challenge to those things."