Ahead of next week's hearing and final vote on proposed changes to the state's Social Studies curriculum, a group of moderate and progressive religious leaders yesterday held a press conference at the Texas State Capitol urging the Board of Education not to turn away from teaching American principles of religious freedom. From the group's press release:
“Our Founding Fathers understood that the best way to protect religious liberty in America is to keep government out of matters of faith,” said the Rev. Roger Paynter, pastor of Austin’s First Baptist Church. “But this state board appears hostile to teaching students about the importance of keeping religion and state separate, a principle long supported in my own Baptist tradition and in other faiths.”
The next meeting and vote is set for May 19-21.
