The Village Square

Florida Thinks: Two views on striking religion “No Aid Provision” from Florida constitution

April 23rd, 2010

Florida Thinks guest columnist, Baptist minister and constitutional attorney J. Brent Walker explains why he opposes Florida House Joint Resolution 1399 and Senate Joint Resolution 2550 which would allow for funding of religious institutions, particularly for vouchers (from Florida Thinks):

Beyond the unfairness of taxing Floridians to support a religion in which they may or may not believe — a proposition that Thomas Jefferson denounced as “sinful and tyrannical” — religious liberty is even further harmed by government funding because the government always controls what it funds.

Moreover, the prophetic voice of religion will, even if only subconsciously, be dampened by state sponsorship. Indeed, religion historically has stood outside of government’s control, serving as a critic of government. How can religion continue to raise a prophetic fist against government when it has the other hand open to receive a government handout? It cannot.

Both the state and religious institutions are better off when neither tries to dominate or do the work of the other. The Legislature faces a clear choice: Adopt the proposed amendment and gut the constitution’s protection of the vitality and independence of religious entities, or leave intact a constitutional provision that has protected religion from the shifting winds of politics and allowed generations of Floridians to worship — or not — according to the dictates of their own consciences.

Michael Sheedy of The Florida Catholic Conference disagrees:

Article 1, Section 3 in our State Constitution, more restrictive than the U.S. Constitution, does not reflect the pluralistic values of Floridians, and is instead reflective of the discriminatory and prejudicial fears of years gone by. It states that “no revenue of the state … shall be taken directly or indirectly in aid of any … sectarian institution.”…

Participation by any religious entity in any state program that involves exchange of funds for services is ripe for challenge unless the provision is removed from the Florida Constitution.

We agree that the state must not favor particular religious groups over others, nor religious persons over non-religious persons, but neither should our Constitution require discrimination against sectarian institutions simply because they are religious. Floridians deserve the opportunity to benefit from programs with a secular purpose run by religious entities.

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Entry Filed under: Florida fun,Religion and politics