Christian schools threatened

Pro-family groups in California reacted in August with shock and dismay after learning that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had signed a bill giving new and far-reaching powers to those supporting the homosexual agenda.

The bill, SB 1441, added sexual orientation to existing provisions in the state’s law that prohibits discrimination in state programs. The measure was promoted by a lesbian member of the California Legislature.

Pro-family opponents of the new law say the measure requires any program or activity that receives any financial assistance from the state to support homosexuality, bisexuality, and transexuality – or risk losing that funding. The law allows no exemptions for faith-based colleges, universities, schools or child-care centers that receive any amount of state money.

One of those pro-family opponents, the Capitol Resource Institute (CRI), responded with sharp criticism of the bill and the governor. A CRI press release said the law “will prevent parochial schools, such as private, Christian, Catholic, Mormon and many other religious universities from receiving student financial assistance if they also maintain a student code of conduct preventing behavior deemed immoral by their religious beliefs.”

CRI Executive Director Karen England said SB 1441 was not “even a veiled attempt at subtly advancing the radical homosexual agenda,” but “an outright, blatant assault on religious freedom.”

Randy Thomasson, spokesman for Campaign for Children and Families, said there may be even more bad news to come for California families. Two more pro-homosexual bills are heading toward the governor’s desk. SB 1437 would prohibit textbooks, instructional materials and school-sponsored activities from “reflecting adversely” on homosexuality. AB 606 authorizes the state to withhold funds from any public school district that does not adequately promote homosexuality, transexuality, and bisexuality in its school policies.