There are interest groups who always express outrage when religious leaders weigh in on a political topic. They immediately start shouting about separation of church and state and don’t legislate morality. Without going into the whole issue of “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;” where the outrage is on what happened in Wake county on Sunday?
The “Wake County Clergy Coalition” (whoever they are) has released a a statement signed by 33 religious leaders asking the Wake County Board of Education to keep its student-assignment policies based on socioeconomic diversity. The issue of busing students is clearly a political one and was widely debated at election time. All of these religious leaders had a chance to weigh in at that time and campaign and contribute to candidates.
Instead of competing in the political arena in the fall of 2009, they appear to be trying to use a perceived moral and political advantage (they have congregations) to try and influence the actions of the new board majority. I am confident that like other attempts this one will fail. The new board was clear in the campaign and seem committed to carrying through on their campaign promises – how is that for a novel ideal!
In the meantime, I will be waiting for the usual cast of characters to complain about church/state separation. Of course I won’t be holding my breath.
Well think what happens when Wake goes back to neighborhood schools… parents won’t have to send their child to private/parochial school anymore. Which means — less revenue for these guys.
Follow the money.