Texas sued for Christian job program
By Andrea Ball
American-Statesman Staff
Tuesday, July 25, 2000
Two civil rights groups sued the Texas Department of Human Services on Monday, claiming a Washington County job training program used state tax money to buy Bibles, hold religious studies and promote Christianity. The organization was awarded $8,000 in tax dollars last year under a church-state relationship advocated by Gov. George W. Bush.
Jobs Partnership of Washington County won the first state contract through Charitable Choice, a section of the 1996 federal welfare reform law that allows states to forge more ties with faith-based groups. Jobs Partnership's president says no state money was used to promote religion.
But Jim Harrington, director of the Texas Civil Rights Project, said the training program clearly advocates Christianity in its mission statement, which reads that course participants will ``find employment through a relationship with Jesus Christ."
According to the suit, the training program's studies include:
? "God loves man his creation."
? "God and work -- to work is to serve God and man."
? "Who's the boss? All authority comes from God."
Bush spokeswoman Linda Edwards said anyone offended by the program has an alternative through the Texas Workforce Commission's job training program.
``Participation is voluntary, and anyone who needs services can get secular services,'' she said.
Bush, a strong supporter of church-state partnerships, has signed bills easing regulations on religious organizations. In his presidential campaign, Bush also has proposed allowing religious and community groups to compete for public money to provide social services now delivered by government.
The Jobs Partnership contract clearly states that no government money may support religious worship, instruction or proselytizing, a human services spokesman said.
The Texas Civil Rights Project and the American Jewish Congress filed suit in District Court in Travis County, asking the state to recoup money given to Jobs Partnership of Washington County.
``The money we received was not used for the purchase of Bibles or anything like that,'' said George Nelson, president of the Brenham-based organization.
Nelson, who said he did not have a copy of the budget available Monday night, could not specify how the money was spent or whether state dollars were separated from other funds. The state's contract with the jobs group expired Dec. 31, 1999.
``We're not disputing their program,'' Harrington said. ``But tax money should not fund any program that teaches a certain religion and buys religious books. It's about the separation of church and state."
Harrington wants Monday's lawsuit to define clearly the line between God and government.
``If we prevail here, it won't just affect this one situation,'' he said. ``It will affect all the contracts out there like this, and all the ones in the future."
State officials say Bush's advocacy of faith-based initiatives hasn't blinded his staff or appointees to the Constitution, which deems that government must be neutral in religious matters.
``First and foremost . . . the governor would never tell me to break the law,'' said Eric Bost, commissioner of the Texas Department of Human Services.
The state will continue to advocate and seek out partnerships with faith-based organizations, despite Monday's lawsuit, Bost said.
``It's going to continue,'' he said. ``I think it's very important."
ACLU threatens to file suit for city's `Godly' resolution
Saturday, July 22, 2000
LEAGUE CITY -- A City Council resolution calling for officials, schools and individuals to follow ``Godly principles'' has the American Civil Liberties Union considering litigation.
In February, the City Council unanimously approved a resolution urging President Clinton to call on Americans to remember ``the Godly principles of our founding fathers and recognize both the influence these principles have had in the founding of our nation and the character, honor, sense of duty and commitment they produced in our founders.''
In a letter this week to city officials, Michael L. Skadden, vice president and legal chairman of the ACLU's Houston chapter, warned the council of this city, a few miles southeast of Houston, to rescind the resolution or face a lawsuit, the Houston Chronicle reported Friday.
``We believe that said resolution violates the anti-establishment clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution,'' Skadden wrote. ``While the principles stated in the resolution may be commendable, our law holds that it is not the place of a civil authority such as you to enact and enforce such a resolution as it in effect establishes an official religion.''
Mayor Tommy Frankovich said the City Council might drop the resolution to avoid a costly lawsuit. City officials will discuss the matter in executive session during Tuesday's regular meeting.
``We're not imposing anything. We're just stating history,'' he said. ``If we can't state history, there is something wrong with our country.''
According to the resolution, the fundamental truths held by the nation's founders include:
? That there is a creator who made all things and ``governs them by His Providence.''
? That the creator has revealed a moral code of behavior, which distinguishes right from wrong.
? That the creator holds people and nations responsible for the way they treat others.
? That all people live beyond this life and, in the next life, are judged by the creator for their conduct.
The resolution calls on every official to revitalize these ``Godly principles.'' It also says every public school or institution should teach the principles as a matter of history.[Article abstracted from Associated Press]
Amen Ministries of Austin�� ///�� Oxbows Ministries International� -� P.O. Box 27683 - Austin, Texas� 78755
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The following ACLU internet page sites are not endorsed by Oxbows Ministries International nor by Amen Ministries of Austin. These few sites are presented as a sample representation of the extent to which the ACLU opposes the open and free expression of Christian values, symbols and practices in public venues.�� Numerous Christian ministries, their outreach services and various denominational centers are under relentless inspection and harassment by the ACLU and its couterparts, as well as certain commercial enterprises that are Christian based and Christian value orientated.
Highlights from ACLU efforts
to protest religious freedoms
http://www.aclu.org/issues/religion/hmrf.html
05-11-00 -- ACLU Lawsuit Seeks to End West Virginia Judge's Courtroom Prayer Sessions
04-25-00 -- Ohio Appeals Court Strikes Down Christian State Motto as Unconstitutional
03-28-00 -- ACLU Urges High Court to Reject Texas School's "One Vote, One Prayer" Policy at Football Games
03-16-00 -- ACLU and 18 Texas Families Sue to Stop 'Prove Your Religion' School Uniform Policy
03-01-00 -- Iowa Civil Liberties Union Condemns State Lawmakers' Call to Post Ten Commandments
12-07-99 -- ACLU of Illinois Lauds Officials' Decision to Remove Religious Postings in Harrisburg Schools
12-03-99 -- ACLU Seeks Supreme Court Review of Ruling in Alabama School Prayer Case
Scripture Note:
II Pet. 3:
3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
4 They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."
8 ... "With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.