More Oregon public schools are opening up their buildings for church services to bring in extra income.
Eight of the state’s 10 biggest districts rent out buildings for services.
While some believe that school-based churches violate the Constitutional separation between church and state, courts generally have found the practice to be legal. The U.S. Supreme Court has made it clear that as long as districts are renting out spaces to outside organizations, it would be discriminatory to ban religious groups.
[i]While some believe that school-based churches violate the Constitutional separation between church and state[/i]
I am sure many know there is no Constitutional separation between church and state. That phrase is no where in the Constitution. What has developed as the principle is bad case law steming from the Everson case.
The First Amendment clearly states that, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”.
In fact, the Federal Government has NO business meddling in what States do regrarding religion. If they want to rent schools out for religious purposes, they can do that. That the Feds do get involved shows the brokeness of our current Government.
When I was a slip of a lass our town’s public school kindergarten was at the local Presbyterian Church and one year to my great consternation our catechism classes were held in our school after school let out. No skipping class that year.
Taxpayers support schools so taxpayers should have equal access to the facilites they pay for as long as the activity is legal.
And besides, Paula, this enables fledgling Anglican congregations a place to worship while they’re adding money to their building funds! It’s a good deal; the schools get extra money, and the congregations benefit!