Gov. John Kasich's $10 million plan to bring mentors into Ohio's schools for students now has a surprise religious requirement – one that goes beyond what is spelled out in the legislation authorizing it.
Any school district that wants a piece of that state money must partner with both a church and a business – or a faith-based organization and a non-profit set up by a business to do community service.
No business and no faith-based partner means no state dollars.
"You must include a faith-based partner," United Way of Greater Cleveland President Bill Kitson, told potential applicants at an information session the United Way hosted Thursday here in Cleveland.
Asked why the governor is mixing religion with a state program - items usually required to be kept separate - Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols said: "The governor believes faith-based organizations play an important role in the lives of young people."
And Kasich's recorded video welcoming the applicants made the importance he places on faith in this effort clear.
"The Good Lord has a purpose for each and every one of them (students) and you're helping them to find it," Kasich said on the video.
Yes the Governor believes that "faith based organizations play an important role in the lives of young people" and that "the good lord has a purpose for each and every one of them" because he is an Evangelical. And Evangelicals simply cannot accept that others will be offended by the inclusion of religion into a public school that is supposed to serve students of all faiths, or not faiths.
That is why the separation of church and state is so vital. And why people like Governor Kasich refuse to accept that it even exists.
Let's hope that someone takes up the cause in Ohio, and this matter is overturned in a court of law.
ReplyDeleteForcing school districts to include "faith" based organizations to participate for funding?
I wonder which "faith based fairy tales" Kasich wants to force on publicly funded school kids?
I'm sure that Buddhist, Hindu, or Zoroastrian groups won't be involved, right?
To say nothing of Moslem, Unitarian, Jewish, Sikh, or Quaker.
DeleteYay!! It's time for the Satanists and the FSM to get involved! Don't these idiots ever learn?
ReplyDeleteNo.
Deletedowl
"Satanists" aren't the answer to quelling the religious mandate as to believe in satan one has to believe in god. Atheism is the the only antidote to Theism. There is no cure for belief other than non belief, even the FSM people choose to believe in a higher power, even if it is even a little more ridiculous than god.
DeleteThen I assume he'll be fine with Jewish mentors, Muslim mentors, and Hindu Mentors. Or else someone needs to file a lawsuit, pronto.
ReplyDeleteSorta reminds me of the prisoners who sign up for faith based counseling and the perks they are given. I too hope someone goes to court on this. I grew up in Cuyahoga County, and at our house my father was the boss, not the school nor state gov.
ReplyDeleteI'm tired of religion stealing public dollars from public schools. and they don't pay taxes or fire protection and they run all kinds of business's from or under the tent of church
ReplyDeleteWith respect to the Mormon church, this applies in spades. The whole church IS a business, lol.
DeleteRepublican Gov. John Kasich can agnostic organizations mentor our youths?
ReplyDeleteSame guy that cut school funding to the bone to pay for tax cuts that mainly helped the wealthy in Ohio. What a joke he is -- the 25% of registered voters in Ohio who bothered to vote this year have created this monster.
ReplyDeleteWhatever happened to separation of church and state? Gwb sure did a heckuva job destroying that!
ReplyDeleteHere's to hoping that Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, and others like Satanists and the spaghettimonster religions all apply for the sponsorship positions!
Isis and the Crips are looking forward to your generosity.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, this will end up in court and the Governor will have to back off that faith based funding.
ReplyDeleteI smell a lawsuit.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure this is illegal.
ReplyDeleteI hope two things happen:
1. He gets his pants sued off and loses.
2. At least one school thumbs their nose at him and teams up with a faith-based Muslim organization and a business with athiest ties. Then sues his ass when he denies them funding.
Getting things like this shoved right back down their throats is also why Bible babblers hate the ACLU - and one of the reasons I love it.
ReplyDeleteFuck that shit, my parent's would have had me in private school quicker than you could say "religious quackery" What a nimrod!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure they'll welcome all faiths with open arms, but then he'd have to change the words "public schools" to "Jesus Camp Indoctrination centers". How about those religions that do "faith healing"? Will they need to send those kids to the faith healers and the others to real nurses and doctors? This is why the SCOTUS is important as is the Civil Liberties Union.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if this genius ever read the bible or the Constitution of the United States of America?
I really, really want a mosque to participate.
ReplyDelete