A bill introduced in the Alabama Legislature proposes allowing churches or ministries to teach a religion class off public school campuses, if parents and school boards give permission and the churches are willing to be responsible for transporting and teaching students and covering any expenses, Birmingham News writer Greg Garrison.

Rep. Blaine Galliher, R-Rainbow City, said he introduced the bill at the request of a constituent, Joseph Kennedy of Etowah County who is a former public educator fired in a dispute over teaching Bible and creationism. Kennedy proposes "release-time" classes, in which public high school students could go off campus to study creationism and get an elective credit for it.

In Alabama nothing launches the online community into debate quicker than issues of religion, separation of state and politics. Read some of what people are saying:

* "When I was a kid we had something called Sunday school that was before the main service on Sunday at our church. Worked just fine." -- Willie63

* "The down fall of this country started when our WEAK POLITICIANS listened one single individual and took GOD out of schools, and Pledge of Allegiance. I have never understood why if you dont believe in GOD.....HE bothers you...hmmm... I believe there should be SEPERATION of Religious students and NON- Religious students....Not necessarily seperate schools but seperate classes. GOD loving good religious students should not have to be inflluenced, co-erced, or bullied into an un-patriotic, sinful, and dangerous lifestyle by non-religious students that dont believe in anything...but Anarchy, violence, sex, drugs, and GANGS.....Just because we have Weak Politicians.....People of GOD need to learn how to stick together, how to Protest, how to carry their own little signs in Protest....FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT People....GOOD DAY" -- THEBIGTUSK

* "It would be a good idea if all public schools offered a class on Religion that covered the three major faiths respectfully. A comprehensive and thorough study of the three major faiths would would provide a much-needed education and would certainly round out the pupils knowledge. Additionally, a Religion course would provide greater intrafaith understanding, which should lead to greater tolerance. Anyway, Alabama is currently at or near the bottom in almost every category. It's past-time to make institutional changes if we really care about our children." -- mlhtiger

* "Religion begins in the HOME, NOT THE self-serving legislature !

"We don't need bornag'in lawmakers creating their personal agenda for religion.

"With parental guidance and love, children will find their way to churches and find God.

"Churches must take politics out of their preachin's, otherwise give up tax exempt privilege." -- SandLord

* "I am really beginning to believe that our state's legislators are employing the tactic of presenting useless, irrelevant bills just to avoid real work and important decisions on meaningful laws for this state. We need to get rid of all of these guys.

"BTW, I have three young boys that I know need Christ in their lives. I am a Christian. But does this issue(bill) really belong in our state senate? Aren't there more appropriate issues for our government to resolve?" -- tootaxed

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