Ethics

Interesting Church/State Ruling from 3rd Circuit

By Ed Brayton

As time goes by, the kinds of conflicts that crop up in the area of church and state become more difficult, closer calls than we've seen previously. A good example is this new ruling from the 3rd Circuit (see PDF of actual decision). We know that no school employee can read the Bible to students during class time, but what if students or their parents are asked to read aloud from their favorite book and, in one case, their favorite book is the Bible?

This is a much closer call, with valid questions on both sides. Should the school protect children against being exposed to any and all religious ideas, even those not expressed by the school itself? Should the school allow 28 kids in a class read from their favorite book but deny that right to one child because his choice of books happens to be religious? These are not easy questions.

Full post as published by Dispatches from the Culture Wars on June 04, 2009 (boomark / email).