Louisiana Will Face Lawsuit If New Law Brings Religion Into Public School

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June 11, 2008

Louisiana Will Face Lawsuit If New Law Brings Religion Into Public School
Science Cl*****, Says Americans United

Church-State Watchdog Group Warns Against Using Anti-Evolution Legislation
To Advance Fundamentalism In The Classroom
 
 
 
The Louisiana House of Representatives today approved a measure that opens
the door to teaching creationism in public schools, an action that is
likely to spark litigation, says Americans United for Separation of Church
and State.
 
Approved by a 94-3 vote, the so-called "Science Education Act" (SB 733)
allows public school teachers to use "supplemental materials" when
discussing evolution.
 
Americans United and other groups contend that those "supplemental
materials" are likely to be anti-evolution books, DVDs and other items
produced by fundamentalist Christian ministries. The measure is being
pushed by the Louisiana Family Forum, the Discovery Institute and other
Religious Right forces. 
 
"It's time for Louisiana to step into the 21st century and stop trying to
teach religion in public schools," said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive
director of Americans United. "Laws like this are an embarrassment."
 
Lynn noted that Louisiana legislators have repeatedly tried to water down
the teaching of evolution. In the 1980s, the state passed a law mandating
"balanced treatment" between evolution and creationism. The measure was
declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1987. Some parishes in
Louisiana have voted to paste "disclaimers" in science books, casting
doubt
on evolution.
 
"If this new law is used to promote religion in Louisiana public schools,
I
can guarantee there will be legal action," Lynn said. "Louisiana students
deserve better, and Louisiana taxpayers should not have their money
squandered on this losing effort."
 
Americans United and allied organizations successfully brought a lawsuit
against the teaching of "intelligent design" creationism in Dover, Pa.,
public schools in 2005. That case ended with the Dover school board being
required to pay significant legal fees.
 
Louisiana's new proposal would permit teachers to introduce "supplemental
textbooks and other instructional materials" when studying evolution,
global warming, human cloning and the origin of life.

The measure now returns to the state Senate, which has already approved a
previous version of the bill.

 http://www.au.org/site/R?i=dieTbN26KaQ5IXJZn8fsxg..

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Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in
Wa****ngton,
D.C. 
Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the im****tance 
of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.



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Americans United Press Contacts:
Joe Conn, Rob Boston
www.au.org/press


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