Keep “God” out of your Pennsylvania public schools!

[yortsed snacilbuper]

Theocratic legislators in the Pennsylvania House are working to require that the words “In God We Trust” be posted in every public school classroom and other school areas.

Unfortunately, House Bill 1640 passed the House Education Committee yesterday, and is due for a full vote before the house at any time.

Please take a moment now to contact your state legislator to oppose this blatant attempt to proselytize a captive audience of young public school students. As a constituent, you have power!

State Rep. Cris Dush, who proposed the bill, inserted language in the bill’s text indicating the bill honors James Pollock, the man partly responsible for tampering with our coinage to insert “In God We Trust” on it. Offensively, the bill even refers to Pollock as “The Great Christian Governor.” Making things worse, the bill suggests that schools may wish to conduct a student contest for “In God We Trust” artwork.

TALKING POINTS

Please identify yourself as a constituent in an email and sign your full name and address. Feel free to copy any of the talking points below:

As your constituent and one of the 24 percent of the population that is not religious, I strenuously oppose House Bill 1640, which seeks to force an inappropriate religious message on all public schoolchildren, including those as young as 4 and 5. It’s unfortunate that “In God We Trust” was misguidedly adopted by Congress as a Johnny-come-lately national motto during the Cold War. But it certainly does not belong in public classrooms. This motto is inappropriate and outdated, excluding up to 44 percent of Americans under 30 who are not religious. In our country, we are free to believe or disbelieve as we like. Public schools exist to educate, not to indoctrinate, and should be free of divisive religious messages. Please oppose this bill!

find your state rep.
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/index.cfm

[immoderate]

1. I always ask for an explanation of what it means.

Trust god... to do what?

The best answer I got was from a minister. He said we can trust god not to intervene or take sides. I said, "You're kidding, right?"

--imm

[WinkyDink]

2. I'll give it a pass, if they add, "And God Wants You to Use Pronouns Correctly."

[Major Nikon]

3. Of course we are assured things like this are really no big deal

So atheists should really just shut the fuck up and let it go.

[Warren DeMontague]

6. of course.

I got that for years, right here. But I'm getting to the point in my life where I figure, fuck it, I'm not shutting up. I'm too old, I won't be here forever, I'm gonna say what's on my mind and if it pisses people off, too fucking bad.

[rockfordfile]

4. I agree keep religion out of Public schools

[Warren DeMontague]

5. ALL OTHERS PAY CASH

[Fumesucker]

7. You'd think people who really trusted God wouldn't need to spend so much on the military

It's almost like they don't really believe their rhetoric since their actions belie it so much.

[Orrex]

8. The phrase makes no sense to me

Either it's an explicit endorsement of God, in which case it must be kept out of state institutions, or it's not an explicit endorsement of God, in which case Christians should reject it for taking His name in vain.

[usedtobedemgurl]

9. If you give one religion a nod.....

you should have to give all religions a nod. They may say it is nothing but watch how they react when someone wants "In Allah We Trust" put up at schools. This proposal is quite unreasonable.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

10. I emailed the form letter to my rep., he went to a C school, this oughta be good?

Bishop Canevin High School

Mission Statement

“Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it.” (Ps. 127)

Bishop Canevin High School, a Catholic, college preparatory school dedicated to the education of young men and women in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, prepares students for a life anchored in Faith, a life enlightened by Learning, and a life committed to the promotion of Charity and Justice. Through a holistic educational approach that is intellectually challenging, rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and aligned with the principles of Ignatian spirituality, the school challenges students to life-long learning and growth in a spirit of "competence, conscience and compassion" as young men and women in service of others.

http://diopitt.org/content/bishop-canevin-high-school

[yortsed snacilbuper]

11. My Catholic reps. responce so far!

Thank you for contacting me via e-mail. Please know that I received your message and will address your concerns as quickly as possible.

If, however, you want to speak with me directly, please contact my office at 412-928-9514.

My staff and I are happy to speak with you and discuss your concerns by phone.

Your comments and concerns are important to me, and I appreciate you taking the time to contact me.

Sincerely,
Rep. Daniel Deasy