| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
< BACK TO ARCHIVE |
| Date: From: Subject: | 1/16/2004 4:23:42 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Ohio--Calls Needed to Protect Religious Liberty and Parental Rights |
|
====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== January 16, 2004 Dear Ohio HSLDA members and friends: Last June, the Ohio Senate passed a bill that would require pastors to report suspicions of child abuse. 32 senators voted for it, and only one voted against it. The Bill has now moved to the House of Representatives. HSLDA opposes this bill, because it makes it harder for parents to receive spiritual help when they need it most, and it turns pastors into agents of the state. This bill is a "knee-jerk" reaction to the sex abuse scandals in recent years. I have discussed this legislation with a number of pastors and church organizations in Ohio. I have yet to speak with any religious group that really wants this bill, but many are afraid to oppose it publicly. That means that freedom-loving families like yours may be the last line of defense in Ohio. I need you to contact each member of the House Criminal Justice Committee, and express your opposition to Senate Bill 100. If possible, please attend the hearing on this bill next Tuesday in Columbus. Action items: 1. Please call each member of the Criminal Justice Committee. Say, "Please vote no on Senate Bill 100. It makes priests and pastors agents of the state." Rep. Stephen Buehrer (R) (614) 644-5091 Rep. Jamie Callender (R) (614) 466-7251 Rep. Thomas (Thom) Collier (R) (614) 466-1431 Rep. David Evans (R) (614) 466-1482 Rep. Keith Faber (R) (614) 466-6344 Rep. Mike Gilb (R) (614) 466-3819 Rep. Timothy Grendell (R) (614) 644-5088 Rep. William (Bill) Seitz (R) (614) 466-8258 Rep. John Willamowski (R) (Vice Chair) (614) 466-9624 Rep. Lance Mason (D) (Ranking Minority member) (614) 466-5441 Rep. Dean DePiero (D) (614) 466-3485 Rep. Edna Brown (D) (614) 466-1401 Rep. Edward Jerse (D) (614) 466-8012 Rep. Annie Key (D) (614) 466-1414 Rep. Shirley Smith (D) (614) 466-7954 Rep. Tyrone Yates (D) (614) 466-1308 2. Please print this information and pass it on to your own pastor and fellow church members this Sunday. Remember, this bill may affect every Christian parent in Ohio, not just homeschoolers. Your fellow citizens need to know what they can do to stand up for freedom before next Tuesday. 3. If possible, plan to attend the hearing on this bill in Room 114 of the Statehouse in Columbus at 2:30 p.m, on Tuesday, Jan. 20. For a map of the Statehouse and parking information, see: http://www.statehouse.state.oh.us/statehouse/floorplans.html http://www.statehouse.state.oh.us/welcome/garage.html Background: In the last few years, many state legislatures have filed bills to force all pastors to report all suspicions of child abuse. These bills were a predictable over-reaction to the sex abuse scandals involving Catholic priests. HSLDA members have managed to defeat such legislation in a number of states, and amend it in others. Now it is Ohio's turn. Senator Spada, the chief sponsor of this bill, is a well-respected Republican. His initial bill would have made all pastors report any suspicions of abuse or neglect. The Ohio Council of Churches, which includes the Roman Catholic Church, the United Methodist Church, the United Presbyterian Church, the Episcopalian Church, and several other similar denominations, was able to persuade Senator Spada to make some changes to his bill. Senator Spada's staff believes that the Ohio Council of Churches now "supports" this legislation. Our sources within the Ohio Council of Churches have not expressed any "support" for the bill, but have withdrawn their open objection to it in its current form. That means this bill, if it is to be successfully opposed, must be opposed by "grass roots" activity. Pastors, if they are performing their duties correctly, are "tuned in" to a great deal of information which the police are unaware. Pastors are God's agents, sent into a world of sin to redeem lost souls. Pastors routinely hear about horrifying situations, yet go back to work, day after day, because the Gospel is the solution to sin. Senate Bill 100 tries to "tap into" this "inside information" in order to protect additional children. Unfortunately, turning pastors into spies for the government will do far more harm than good. Under current law, pastors and priests are free to report child abuse or neglect if they choose to do so. This bill will have no effect on the pastor who believes that he can serve God and his fellow man by reporting his suspicions. The only direct affect that this bill will have is to apply criminal penalties to pastors who do not believe they can report a suspicion in good conscience. Since this bill sets up a conflict between a pastor's conscience and the criminal law, it is fraught with constitutional problems. The best way to avoid this constitutional train wreck is to contact each member of the Criminal Justice Committee to indicate your opposition to SB 100. If possible, please attend the hearing on this bill on January 20. Sincerely, Scott Somerville HSLDA Staff Attorney {{JoinAd}} ====================================================================== The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. Box 3000 Purcellville, Virginia 20134 Phone: (540) 338-5600 Fax: (540) 338-2733 Email: info@hslda.org Web: http://www.hslda.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- How To Subscribe: - Subscribe to the HSLDA E-lert Service at our website: https://secure.hslda.org/hslda/elert/account.asp?Process=Subscribe - Or send an email with name and complete mailing address to: subscribe@hslda.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscription Information: - You subscribed to the HSLDA E-lert Service as: {{Email}} - To unsubscribe from the HSLDA E-lert Service send an email from the email address you want to unsubscribe to: unsubscribe@hslda.org - To change your email address or make other changes to your subscription, visit the HSLDA E-lert Service account web page at: https://secure.hslda.org/hslda/elert/account.asp ---------------------------------------------------------------------- POSTMASTERS: This message is being sent to the most recent address we have for our subscribers. If this is an invalid email address or you have other problems, please reply to webmaster@hslda.org. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER: This is considered a private and confidential message from HSLDA to its bonafide HSLDA E-lert Service subscribers. HSLDA cannot attest to the authenticity of copies posted, forwarded, or sent by any party other than HSLDA. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: Please do not reply or otherwise use this email address; hslda@hslda.org is for broadcast purposes only and is not intended to receive incoming messages. We cannot reply to any email sent to this address. If you have comments or questions, please send email to info@hslda.org or call HSLDA at 540-338-5600. HSLDA members can also email staff directly through the Members website at http://members.hslda.org/contact.asp. Thank you for your cooperation. ====================================================================== | |
