Legislator assumes "religious" only meant "Christian"

Valarie Hodges, a state legislator in Louisiana, enthusiastically supported Governor Jindal's plan to divert money from public schools to religious private schools. That was until she learned that religious schools were not limited to those with Christian-based charters.

“I actually support funding for teaching the fundamentals of America’s Founding Fathers’ religion, which is Christianity, in public schools or private schools,” the District 64 Representative said Monday.

“I liked the idea of giving parents the option of sending their children to a public school or a Christian school,” Hodges said.

After the initiative was signed by the governor, a Muslim school applied for inclusion in the voucher system. Representative Hodges was shocked and outraged.

“Unfortunately it will not be limited to the Founders’ religion,” Hodges said. “We need to insure that it does not open the door to fund radical Islam schools. There are a thousand Muslim schools that have sprung up recently. I do not support using public funds for teaching Islam anywhere here in Louisiana.”

Freedom of religion means every belief system has the same rights and privileges in our society. It is not complicated. Hodges has been brainwashed into believing that our founders intended Christianity to be the official religion of America.

Perhaps a more fundamental issue is why Christians in our society expect rights and privileges they are unwilling to extend to others. There is nothing particularly Christ-like in that attitude.