Attacking Christian Schools In NC

This is family policy matter program is produced by the North Carolina family policy Council of profamily research and education organization dedicated to strengthening and preserving the family and now from the studio. Here's John Rushton, president of the North Carolina family policy Council, thank you for joining us this week. Profamily policy matters. It is our pleasure to have met with us on the program's legal counsel for the alliance. Defending freedom or ADF national civil liberties organization advocating for religious freedom, the sanctity of human life in marriage and family be talking with Matt about a letter that ADF recently sent to religious schools across North Carolina advising them of their constitutional right to participate in the states new opportunity scholarship program. This program enables eligible low income families to apply for scholarship grants to cover all or a portion of the cost of their tuition at private schools beginning with the 2014 2015 school year. The letter which was close by the north Carolina family policy Council is a response to an aggressive campaign by equality North Carolina statewide pro-homosexual lobbying organization that is seeking to bully Christian schools to the point that they decline participation in the states opportunity scholarship program will be talking with Matt Sharp about this campaign and what Christian school should not be intimidated by these efforts.

Matt walking to the program that you for having me. Great was a pleasure to have you and we so appreciate the work that you analyze defending freedom smoke map.

We discussed the specifically the letter that ADF recently sent to religious schools in North Carolina. Let's talk about this campaign of intimidation that is being spearheaded by the states leading homosexual advocacy group equality NC the campaign began in Wilmington when equality MC targeted Myrtle Grove Christian school after the school announced plans to adopt a new biblical morality policy for the next school year. Tell us about all of this. If you would, absolutely, well, equality North Carolina began its campaign target all schools in the state.

All private Christian schools in the state that have policies that merely expect teachers, students and and staff members at the school to follow what the Bible teaches to two follow its command its teachings and whatnot in every aspect of their life, including in their sexual behavior and this is something unfortunately worsening pop up not only North Carolina but in other states we seen it in Louisiana were seen in Georgia. Of these activist groups targeting Christian school simply because those schools expect its students and its teachers to adhere to biblical standards of conduct and so what this is is really a larger attack on the right of of churches on Christian schools to follow what the Bible teaches to tell anyone that works there that if they want to work there. They need to follow what the Bible teaches not only at school but what they do at home because the schools realized that it's not just what happens in the four corners of the school but also what they do on their free time that impacts the school and so with the these goals are doing is telling their staff their students. Everyone is that you need to follow what the Bible you know you're coming to the school voluntarily. Your choosing to attend a Christian school or work at a Christian school and by choosing to do so were asking you to live up to the standards that you claim you follow the standards of the Bible and so this is a a troubling campaign to see these equality North Carolina and groups like it start to target the right of Christian schools of churches and other groups, religious groups to be able to follow what the Bible teaches an expected members and teachers and students to do likewise see that it's a clear demonstration that there so-called tolerance really has its limitations in the fact that they have zeroed in and focused in on Christian schools, and particularly those who have a direct policy that deals with student admission and behaviors in the realm of of sexual behavior, now passing that these types of policies are fairly standard of most Christian schools across the country. Can you tell us more specifically what the policy had multiple roles and some of these other schools says and why it is so central to the mission of those Christian school absolutely and you're right that these are standard policies not only throughout Christian schools, North Carolina but throughout the country and these policies in general.

Basically say you need to follow what the Bible says both at school and at home.

The one at Myrtle Grove Christian school in particular basically said you know we refused the right to refuse admission to someone whose conduct both at home or at school.

The activities involved in are in opposition to the biblical lifestyle style.

The school teaches and we think this is a great policy for multiple reasons is that if you go to any type of school and their teaching math or science or whatever you expect everyone in there to follow accepted standards of massive science whatnot and so here's the students attending a Christian school, and what the school is doing a thing just like we have certain standards we follow, math, science, English qualities were setting certain standards that we follow him in regards to your biblical lifestyle biblical teaching you're coming to our school because you want the Bible you want Christianity integrated into all aspects of your learning your master English or science and just as you are coming to us. We expect you and return to live up to this lifestyle that you're wanting to follow. I live up to it at home, live up into the into the activities you do these types of policies they take different languages different schools throughout the country, but they all had the same basic principle of saying you're coming to us specifically because were Christian and we expect you to live up to these Christian values were all NFL. Sometimes frog in a fall short, but each and every one of us should be striving to live up to them and that if you've got individuals that refuse to follow the biblical teaching, the refuse to adopt the biblical lifestyle there violating their agreement with the school and enter showing the they really don't take that seriously offend the circumstances. The school they cyborg after break fellowship with you.

Maybe this is the right place for you to be were wanting an atmosphere everyone in here is passionately pursuing biblical lifestyle and integrating the Bible and its teachings every aspect of their life and so basically what this thing is if you can't follow that this may not be the best school for you will equality look a lot is making a specific demand of Christian schools in the state that wish to participate in the states new opportunity scholarship program. Would you tell us about this demand, which ADF is described as unlawful in a form of religious discrimination. Absolutely the scholarship program is your listeners know it is a great thing that is providing more school choice to families across North Carolina letting parents take the kids out of underperforming schools and integrate private schools in these parents and students. They can choose from a variety. Maybe they choose a secular school or one that Christian or of another faith. But the important thing is it's getting parents and students control and choice. What equality North Carolina is seeking to do is really deprived as parents of choice. Deprive the students of choice and exclude Christian schools from participating in this great program. What equality North Carolina is seeking to have the legislation to and seeking to schools to voluntarily do is to take themselves out of this program that because they are Christian because their religious because they expect students to follow biblical lifestyle that they are now unworthy to participate in this program and that's something that our Constitution says is forbidden. It says you can't discriminate against the school because it follows biblical teachings expects its students and teachers to do likewise. That those schools have the exact same like to participate in the scholarship programs as every other school every other private school in the state. So what they are demanding is, or discrimination. What equality North Carolina is seeking is to discriminate against Christian schools and have them banned from having the same equal access as every other private school in the state to the scholarship program.

As a result there depriving parents and students of a valuable choice of choice to attend schools like Myrtle or every other private private Christian school in the state well in this matter is the essence of the letter that ADF signed and we appreciate opportunity for the Carolina family policy Council decide on that letter as well. Expressing our complete agreement with ADL's position on this and desire to educate school leaders across North Carolina and particularly those in Christian and religious schools.

Can you talk a little bit about the specifics of this letter and how these private Christian schools have a right to equal participation in this opportunity scholarship program absolutely that equal participation is the big work here and again I think so ironic that quality North Carolina group that had equal in its name, seeking to deny equal participation to these groups and what it boils down to it throughout the years, various efforts have been made to exclude religious groups from participating in programs and opportunities basically telling Christian groups in schools and churches that if they want to participate in these programs. Whether it's a scholarship program or tax-exempt status of various things like that that they have to abandon their Christian beliefs that they have to abandon their Christian principles and fortunately time and time again the courts have rejected this and they said a group can maintain its Christian identity can expect its its members, its leaders, it students its teachers whatever good here to biblical teachings and still participate in this program because otherwise we are denying equality to religious groups were denying equality to those devout groups that want to follow what the Bible teaches.

So what are letter points out is cases one after another after another from the Supreme Court and other cases are other courts throughout the country that have upheld this principle of equal participation and that no Christian has ever need to fear being told that they are unwelcome to participate in a program simply because of their faith simply because of their decision to follow Christ and integrate the Bible and all aspects of their life.

What we are encouraging all of these schools North Carolina to do stand firm on this. What these groups like equality North Carolina want to do is bully private Christian schools to abandon these policies and we think that's a a dangerous thing because again, parents and students are choosing the schools because of the Christian values they teach because they want their students to be taught that they want teachers that follow those values both in the classroom and outside of it and I we are losing something valuable. If these Christian schools under the threat and bowling from quality North Carolina abandon these values and principles and policies. We want schools to know that they have nothing to fear.

No Matthew mentioned using similar activity and some other states across the nation. Can you talk about those and help us understand North Carolina is not unique in this. This is an effort that is being undertaken by pro-homosexual groups all across the country to try to bully these Christian schools. As you mentioned absolutely just in the past month a a Similar Effort Took Pl. in Louisiana they got a very similar voucher program and a equality group down there. A very pro-homosexual activity group sent out similar letters to schools throughout the state. I kind of trying to threaten them bully them into abandoning their morality based policies and same thing happened in Georgia couple years ago I were group was saying that providing funding, allowing Christian schools to participate in our state scholarship program would violate the so-called separation of church and state. And again, these arguments have been brought up before they've been rejected by the Supreme Court and other courts. The schools have a right to hold these policies and to expect students to follow a biblical lifestyle.

But again, these groups there. They're looking for little victories there looking if they can get out. You know I did a dozen schools to abandon these policies and they counted as a victory. That's life so important for every single Christian school that may feel pressure about this to stand firm and say no. We are we are standing firm in our Christian values were standing firm to the biblical lifestyle that we expect our students, teachers will not get a waiver and that because these groups they they know they can't win in court and so they use these bowling tactics they use threats of getting legislation changed in and getting people to ride into the schools and getting media attention in all of these things to put pressure on school is what they did in Georgia.

They're doing in Louisiana.

They're doing North Carolina and so we need schools to know that they don't need to be to fear, threat of all is on their side alliance.

Defending freedom is on their side. And as long as they stand firm. Operate like they have for as long as they've been in existence and teach and maintain a biblical lifestyle for the faculty were nearly out of town for this week working the listeners go to find out more about this issue and about alliance defending freedom. They can visit our website which is www.alliancedefendingfreedom.org. While there, they can learn more about what were doing in states like North Carolina, Louisiana and Georgia to protect school choice and the right of Christian schools to participate in these programs and if any of your listeners attend one of the schools or or know of pressure being put on the school to abandon their morality policy they can contact us. We can provide them information free of charge and legal assistance to protect the right to operate according to their religious beliefs that website again is www.alliancedefendinghim.org and you can visit that website and also the website of the North Carolina family policy council@ncfamily.org to learn more about this issue. You metric thank you so much for being with us on family policy matters. Thanks much for your good work and all that ADF doesn't stamp thank you so much for having me before we close out like to invite you to follow the nuclear family policy Council on Facebook. Just login and find us@ncfamily.org. Be sure to watch us when you visit an addition for instant updates on profamily news of interest. Follow us on Twitter at MC family oh Lord again that at MC family oh orgy family policy matters is an information and analysis, future North Carolina family policy Council join us weekly discussion on policy issues affecting the family.

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