Governor supports bill specifying free religious expression

By Kelley Shannon, Associated Press, The Houston Chronicle, April 10, 2007

Austin -- Gov. Rick Perry joined some fellow Capitol Republicans and social conservatives Tuesday to urge passage of legislation he says will clarify for Texas schools that they may allow religious freedom on campus.

A bill by Rep. Charlie Howard, a Sugar Land Republican, will be considered in a legislative committee this week. The measure will help schools feel comfortable in allowing religious speech permitted under the First Amendment without the worry that they will be sued, Howard said.

"The waters have become very muddy," he said.

Perry, surrounded by children and parents who said their religious speech was quashed at public school, said the legislation doesn't expand religious expression in schools but reiterates students' existing rights.

Perry and others at a news conference said in one case a school prohibited students from wishing troops serving overseas a "Merry Christmas" and that another school reprimanded a child for saying the name "Jesus" when asked her thoughts about Easter.

Cynthia Gualy, a mother of four from Katy, gave examples of when she said her children were told they couldn't say "God" at school or distribute religious bracelets at recess.

The group had harsh words for some school boards and their interpretations of what type of religious expression is allowed on school grounds.

But Jacqueline Lain, associate executive director for governmental relations for the Texas Association of School Boards, said her organization doesn't suggest that school districts ban religious expression.

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