For Immediate Release
Contact: Ari Geller - Rabinowitz/Dorf Communications 202-265-3000
Louisiana Senator Had Sought Funding for Creationist Organization Under the Guise of Science Education
Washington, DC -- The Interfaith Alliance welcomed the news that a budget item that would have funded creationist pseudo-science will be removed from the Labor, Education, and HHS budget bill. Senator David Vitter (R-LA) had inserted an earmark giving $100,000 to the Louisiana Family Forum, a Religious Right organization, to "promote better science education." The Interfaith Alliance criticized the move as a backdoor attempt to fund creationism in public schools using federal tax dollars. Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, President of the Interfaith Alliance released the following statement:
"I am pleased that Senator Vitter has finally acknowledged the flaws in his effort to use federal tax dollars to promote religious education. This was an underhanded attempt to circumvent the Constitution and defy multiple court rulings against teaching creationism in public school science classes. As a Louisiana resident and a pastor, I'm disturbed that Senator Vitter attempted to use a backdoor legislative maneuver to funnel $100,000 of public funds to a group trying to substitute its own religious views for sound science. It is even more egregious because Senator Vitter wanted to use public funds to advance a sectarian view. Make no mistake about it, both religion and science are hurt when the two are confused and our schoolchildren will suffer the consequences of bad public policy."
# # #
The Interfaith Alliance celebrates
religious freedom by championing individual rights, promoting policies that
protect both religion and democracy, and uniting diverse voices to challenge
extremism. Founded in 1994, the Interfaith Alliance has 185,000 members across the country
from 75 faith traditions as well as those without a faith tradition. For more
information visit www.interfaithalliance.org.