Pizza proselytism: not in public schools.It is beyond dispute that the First Amendment gives religious groups the fight to seek new converts. Church members can go door to door with magazines. They can hand out fliers in public places or mail out special invitations to worship with them. If you're not interested, you are free to shut the door, discard the fliers or ignore the invitations. The right to spread religious messages is protected--but nothing in the Constitution gives faith groups a right to expect government help in winning souls. Yet that is exactly what the so-called "pizza evangelists" discussed in this issue of Church & State seek to do. (See "Extreme Evangelism Evangelism Gantry, Elmer fire and brimstone, fraudulent revivalist. [Am. Lit.: Elmer Gantry] John disciple closest to Jesus. [N.T.: John] Luke early Christian; the “beloved physician.” [N.T. ," page 4.) They want an arm of the government--the public school system in this case--to assist them in recruiting youngsters for fundamentalist fundamentalist An investor who selects securities to buy and sell on the basis of fundamental analysis. Compare technician. Christian revival meetings. At those events, the kids are often pressured to make faith professions and sign cards stating that they have converted. Government promotion of religious services is unconstitutional unconstitutional adj. referring to a statute, governmental conduct, court decision or private contract (such as a covenant which purports to limit transfer of real property only to Caucasians) which violate one or more provisions of the U. S. Constitution. . Public schools that work knowingly with "pizza evangelists" to further the sectarian sec·tar·i·an adj. 1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of a sect. 2. Adhering or confined to the dogmatic limits of a sect or denomination; partisan. 3. Narrow-minded; parochial. n. 1. aims of fundamentalists are violating the law. But there is another aspect to be considered: Giving these evangelists access to public school students violates parental fights. In this country, parents get to decide what religion--if any--their children are exposed to. What house of worship Noun 1. house of worship - any building where congregations gather for prayer house of God, house of prayer, place of worship bethel - a house of worship (especially one for sailors) the parents choose, and whether they choose one at all, is no business of the public school system. Fundamentalist Christian parents would undoubtedly be outraged if non-Christian proselytizers were brought into public schools to promote events where youngsters would be urged to embrace other faiths. In light of that, they need to remember the Golden Rule and treat their neighbor's children as they would like their own to be treated. Fundamentalists tempted to back the activities of "pizza evangelists" also need to remember this: These groups have been accused of promising to stick to secular topics in schools and then lapsing lapse v. lapsed, laps·ing, laps·es v.intr. 1. a. To fall from a previous level or standard, as of accomplishment, quality, or conduct: into sermons, of not telling school officials that they plan to promote offsite religious events and of claiming to be experts in areas when they are not. Deception is a poor way to save souls. What is that commandment com·mand·ment n. 1. A command; an edict. 2. Bible One of the Ten Commandments. commandment Noun a divine command, esp. about not bearing false witness Noun 1. bearing false witness - criminal offense of making false statements under oath lying under oath, perjury infraction, misdemeanor, misdemeanour, violation, infringement - a crime less serious than a felony ? "Pizza evangelists" have the right to come to your door and try to persuade you they are correct about religion. Instead, they want public schools to make a special delivery for them. That must not be permitted. |
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