Protect Religious Freedom
Our Liberties are at stake! – Your help is needed!
The Texas House State Affairs Committee heard HJR 110 on Wednesday April 2, 2013. The bill was left pending. This bill is known as the Religious Liberty Amendment. The main parts of the bill are quoted here. Underlined parts would be added to our constitution by this amendment when it is approved by Texans.
- “Sec. 6. (a) All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences. No man shall be compelled to attend, erect or support any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry against his consent. No human authority ought, in any case whatever, to control or interfere with the rights of conscience in matters of religion, and no preference shall ever be given by law to any religious society or mode of worship.
- (b) Government may not burden a person’s or religious organization’s Freedom of Religion. The right to act or refuse to act in a manner motivated by a sincerely held religious belief may not be burdened unless the government proves it has a compelling governmental interest in infringing the specific act or refusal to act and has used the least restrictive means to further that interest. A burden includes indirect burdens such as withholding benefits, assessing penalties, or an exclusion from programs or access to facilities.
- (c) But it shall be the duty of the Legislature to pass such laws as may be necessary to protect equally every religious denomination in the peaceable enjoyment of its own mode of public worship.
SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 5, 2013. The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the proposition: “The constitutional amendment relating to a person’s freedom of religion.”
Rep. Jason Isaac, (R-District 45) is the author of the bill. It is compiled and condensed from several decisions the Supreme Court has made about the religious liberties of Americans and Texans. Similar wording now appears in our Texas Statutes as law. Each biennium the Texas legislature convenes and executes reconstruction of laws in our Code. Any session the words of this statute are subject to change by the legislature. To assure that it is more difficult to change the wording, thereby amending our religious rights, it is very important that these words be written into our Texas Constitution. On April 2 some spurious testimony was given to distract from the truth of the amendment. If we are to protect into the future our religious liberties in Texas, it is very important for Texans rise up and demand this protection for our children and grandchildren.
Since this is a Constitutional amendment, it will require two-thirds of each chamber (House and Senate) to pass this legislation. It does not require the governor’s signature. One hundred members of the House must vote “Yes”, and twenty-one Senators must vote “Yes”. Before it can become part of our Texas Constitution, the amendment must appear on a ballot in a general election in November to be ratified by the people.
We are asking that you contact your representative, your senator and any member of the House or Senate State Affairs Committee and urge them to vote for this amendment.
The members of the House committee are:
Chairman Byron Cook (R-HD 8) 512-463-0730
V-Ch. Helen Giddings (D-HD 109) 512-463-0953
Tom Craddick (R-HD 82) 512-463-0500
Jessica Farrar (D-HD 148) 512-463-0620
Charlie Geren (R-HD 99) 512-463-0610
Patricia Harless (R-HD 126) 512-463-0496
Harvey Hilderbran (R-HD 53) 512-463-0536
Dan Huberty (R-HD 127) 512-463-0520
Jose Menendez (D-HD 124) 512-463-0634
Rene Oliveira (D-HD 37) 512-463-0640
John Smithee (R-HD 86) 512-463-0702
Sylvester Turner (R-HD 139) 512-463-0554
The companion bill (same wording) to be heard in the senate is SJR 4 by Sen. Campbell and Sen. Paxton:
The members of the Senate Committee are:
Chairman Robert Duncan (R-SD 28) 512-463-0128
V-Ch. Bob Deuell (R-SD 02) 512-463-0102
Rodney Ellis (D-SD 13) 512-463-0113
Troy Fraser (R-SD 24) 512-463-0124
Joan Huffman (R-SD 17) 512-463-0117
Eddie Lucio, Jr. (D-SD 27) 512-463-0127
Robert Nichols (R-SD 03) 512-463-0103
Leticia Van De Putte (D-SD 26) 512-463-0126
Tommy Williams (R-SD 04) 512-463-0104
Thank you for your continued support for CWA of TEXAS!
HELP US FINISH STRONG FOR YOU!
CWA is blessed with members and friends who contribute generously. However, we need your help to continue to fight in Austin on these things we have reported to you. Please help us in this fight for religious freedom and protection for Texas children. Please make a tax-deductible donation TODAY. Our average gift is less than $30, but because we have power in numbers, we are able to be one of the most effective organizations representing your views anywhere. Help us finish this session strong for our faith and family values in Texas. Send your donation to CWA of Texas, P.O. Box 1746, Rockwall, TX 75087. Or, to donate online simply click here.
C-Scope Needs Oversight – Your help is needed!
The Texas Senate Education Committee heard SB 1406 on Tuesday April 2, 2013. It was passed out of the Senate Education Committee on a 7-0 vote. Many of you have seen the news on C-Scope which is an online curriculum management system. It is currently used in 875 school districts in Texas. C-Scope officials admitted under oath in a January 31 Senate Education hearing that they had prior lessons that called the Boston Tea Party an “act of terrorism”, 9/11 terrorists were called “freedom fighters”, and an Islamic world lesson that told teachers to hand out excerpts from the Qur’an that told children to SAY (yes, SAY), “Qur’an [45.26] ‘Allah gives you life, then He makes you die, then will He gather you to the day of resurrection wherein is no doubt, but most people do not know.’ Qur’an [45.28] ‘and you shall see every nation kneeling down; every nation shall be called to its book: today you shall be rewarded for what you did.'” This is not a lesson on Islam; this is called indoctrination. These types of lessons cause confusion in children. We heard from a mother in Plano where her young daughter asked her, “Mom, is it God or Allah?” This should not be, and we should not risk what parents have worked so hard to teach their children all over a dollar.
We need your help to call you state senator and ask him/her to support State Board of Education oversight. We are working against many superintendents who do not wish to have this oversight. We cannot trust the makers of C-Scope. The State Board of Education is our elected body. They are responsible ultimately to the tax payers of Texas. They are the safety net we as parents have between the schools our children attend and what curriculum is being taught in this State. They have been given oversight by the State Legislature on all printed materials.
We urge you to call your state senator and state representative and ask them to continue to allow oversight on all online education materials considered to be curriculum. Urge them bring SB 1406 to the floor for a vote. Click here to find out who your representatives are and how to contact them.
For freedom!
Michelle Smith
Associate Director
CWA of Texas