PFI to House Education Committee: Protect Religious Preschools, Parental Choice

From Michael Geer, President
Pennsylvania Family Institute

Thomas J. Shaheen, Vice President for Policy for Pennsylvania Family Institute, testified on a panel last week before the state House Education Committee. He was there to support long-needed legislation, HB 1588, to protect church-affiliated educational preschool programs (including latchkey and Vacation Bible School programs) from unwarranted state intrusion. PFI was there for School Choice and Religious Freedom - to add YOUR voice, the voice of parents who choose to utilize and support religious preschools and ministries. Click here to read Shaheen's testimony.

This legislation is necessary to ensure religious freedom in religious educational preschool facilities. The proposed bill protects the rights of these institutions to follow their religious beliefs in their curriculum and staff requirements while maintaining the state's responsibility to ensure standards of health and safety that protect staff and children. Pennsylvania already has protections in place for kindergarten, elementary schools, and high schools. HB 1588 ensures that the state government does not have authority to impose content-based mandates on instruction at religious preschool and before- and after-school programs.

Senators Toomey and Casey Votes for 'ENDA' Bill That Trumps Our Religious Freedoms

 

This week, the U.S. Senate voted to move towards a final vote on the so-called Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a bill that would prohibit businesses from taking into account any conduct related to "actual or perceived sexual identity or gender identity" when making employment decisions even if it violates their religious beliefs or if it is inappropriate for their workplace.

Our Pennsylvania delegation, Senator Pat Toomey and Senator Bob Casey, Jr. ignored your calls and the warnings of pro-family organizations like the Family Research Council to vote in favor of moving for a final vote.

Senator Casey is a co-sponsor of the bill, while Senator Toomey released a statement announcing his support for the bill. Click here to read the statement. Senator Toomey introduced a lame religious freedom protection amendment that leaves out private business owners - religious or otherwise.

S. 815 (ENDA) remains dangerous because many who are in charge of enforcing laws like these view disagreement with the homosexual lifestyle to be a form of bigotry. The end result of this type of law is to jeopardize the freedom of those who wish to advocate for traditional morality.

Take Action!  Please contact US Senators Bob Casey and Pat Toomey here and share your dismay with their votes for S. 815, ENDA, as it imposes on employers' freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of conscience and the free market economy.