Southern Baptist Resolution Calls for Removing Children From "Godless" Schools

May 17, 2004

Source: The Allen American

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=11665275&BRD=1426&PAG=461&dept_id=525682&rfi=6

On May 17, 2004 The Allen American reported, "Some local Baptist pastors have expressed opposition to a proposed Southern Baptist Convention resolution that calls for removing all children of Baptists from what it labeled 'godless' public schools. A retired general, T.C. Pinckney, and Houston attorney Bruce Shortt penned the resolution and forwarded it to the Southern Baptist Convention for consideration during its June 15-16 meeting in Indianapolis. 'Just as it would be foolish for the warrior to give his arrows to his enemies, it is foolish for Christians to give their children to be trained in schools run by the enemies of God,' the resolution reads. The resolution claims that many Christian children are converted to an anti-Christian world view while in public school and that Baptist parents are obligated to remove their children from the government system and provide them a Christian education by home schooling or private schools. Under the U.S. Constitution, public schools, as government agencies, cannot promote the values of a particular religion.... Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, believes that the effort to remove children from public schools is a fringe issue from the religious right... He said that America has more religious diversity than it did 50 years ago and that religion in school should be a controversial issue."