Christian group wrote legislation eerily similar to Ohio religious liberty bill

[Judi Lynn]

Critics suspect hand of Project Blitz in draft passed by Ohio house which they fear could let students’ religious beliefs trump science

Jessica Glenza in New York
@JessicaGlenza
Fri 22 Nov 2019 06.30 EST

An Ohio state bill which could allow students’ religious beliefs to trump science-based facts is almost identical to model legislation backed by an evangelical, anti-gay Christian group.

The Student Religious Liberties Act, which passed the Ohio house last week, instructs schools to neither “penalize or reward” students on the basis of their religious speech. It also stipulates schools must provide opportunities for religious expression “in the same manner and to the same extent” as secular speech. Critics argue the bill would provide protect students from bad grades based on religion.

The bill’s backers deny it is connected to the group, called Project Blitz but the bill has nearly identical language to the model legislation backed by Project Blitz in their 2018-19 “playbook”.

While student religious liberties bills existed before Project Blitz, its inclusion in a playbook by groups whose goal is to inject religion into law shows the priority they place on the matter. When contacted by the Guardian, Steven W Fitschen, president of the National Legal Foundation, said “We are, of course, delighted that legislators in Ohio drafted a bill so similar to our model bill since we believe its provisions are constitutional and beneficial to students of faith in Ohio, without impinging on anyone else’s rights.”

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/nov/22/ohio-religious-liberty-bill-project-blitz-christian

[Ilsa]

1. You know, I wonder which "doctor" they would

select to diagnose and possibly operate on their loved ones? A doctor who argued faith-based answers to questions about healing, or one who went through a rigorous medical science program requiring critical thinking skills?

I'm fine if that's who they want to go to. But let's make certain our emergency departments are staffed with the latter in case of emergency.

[murielm99]

2. I went to a conservative Christian university.

We learned evolution theory in my biology classes.

[Faux pas]

3. Kickin' with disgust!