Secular Coalition submits testimony for Senate hearing on vouchers

September 14- The Secular Coalition for America has submitted written testimony for a September 16th hearing on the reauthorization of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program. The Secular Coalition thinks it is unconstitutional for federal tax dollars to be funnelled to D.C. schools like the Ambassador Baptist Church Christian School, Calvary Christian Academy  First Rock Baptist Christian Church School, Muhammad University of Islam, Clara Muhammad School and Dupont Park Seventh-day Adventist School.

The Secular Coalition opposes the use of government funds for religious purposes, including vouchers for religious schools. We agree with the founders of the United States that no individual taxpayer should be required to pay for someone else's religion. When private religious schools are privately funded, religious schools have an undisputed right to include religious content in their curriculum. But once taxpayer dollars enter the equation, it is impossible for the government to avoid funding religious activity or favoring one religious program over another or over non-religious programming.

The testimony is attached.

For our complete position paper and fact-sheet on the D.C. religious school voucher program, click here.