wfn.org | We Can Live Together with Deep Differences, Haynes Asserts

[Carol Fouke <carolf@ncccusa.org>]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Contact: NCC News, 212-870-2227; news@ncccusa.org; www.ncccusa.org
NCC10/10/01 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WE CAN LIVE TOGETHER WITH DEEP DIFFERENCES, HAYNES ASSERTS

	NEW YORK CITY - When freedom is under attack, how do we defend it?  Not by
waving a flag, asserted Dr. Charles C. Haynes of the Freedom Forum's First
Amendment Center, but by living the principles and ideals of the U.S.
Constitution.

"Terrorist camps are very effective, but I believe in my heart that schools
in a democratic society can teach people to be free citizens, and that's
even more effective," he said, addressing the National Council of Churches'
Executive Board during its October 1-2 meeting at the First Amendment Center
's mid-Manhattan offices.

One key is learning to live together with deep differences, including
religious differences, which are "important to millions of people," Dr.
Haynes said.  "We can, in our public schools, be places where religious
liberty is not only discussed but modeled."

This includes teaching "rights, responsibility and respect" and
accommodating claims of conscience whenever possible; for example, through
release time, he said.

The First Amendment Center has as its mission to foster public understanding
of and appreciation for First Amendment rights and values, including freedom
of speech, the press and of religion, the right to assemble and to petition
the government.

Through its Religious Freedom Programs, it helps schools throughout the
nation address issues concerning religion and values in public education.
This work has won broad consensus from parties as diverse as the National
Association of Evangelicals, Christian Legal Society, U.S. Catholic
Conference, National Council of Churches, Council on Islamic Education,
American Jewish Congress, National PTA and American Association of School
Administrators.

Dr. Haynes is Senior Scholar for the Religious Freedom Programs, and is
based at the Freedom Forum First Amendment Center offices in Arlington, Va.
The center also has offices in Nashville, Tenn.

The importance of the First Amendment Center's work was proven on September
12.  Public school teachers in Modesto, Calif., "have been taking workshops
with us and others about how to talk fairly and accurately about religion in
the public school setting," Dr. Haynes told the NCC Executive Board.

"On September 12, Modesto's schools went into action.  They had teachers who
knew something about Islam because they had a unit on world religions in the
9th grade, who could talk about how we can live together with deep
differences and with deep respect."  The violence against Muslims, Arabs,
Sikhs and others since September 11 "reminds us that we can't take (this)
for granted," he said.

Dr. Haynes said he's been trying to get the New York City public school
system interested in the Religious Freedom Programs.  "After September 11, I
got the call: 'We're interested.'"

	The First Amendment Center has published (or co-published) a host of
related resources, including "A Teacher's Guide to Religion in the Public
Schools," "The Bible and Public Schools: A First Amendment Guide," "Public
Schools and Religious Communities: A First Amendment Guide" and "A Parent's
Guide to Religion in the Public Schools."

	Dr. Haynes contributed the article "From Battleground to Common Ground:
Religion in the Public Square of 21st Century America," to the 2000
publication of The American Assembly, "Religion in American Public Life:
Living with Our Deepest Differences."

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