Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has signed legislation mandating Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms beginning Sept. 1 despite the threat of litigation from civil liberties groups. Abbott’s office said the governor signed the measure June 21 along with more…
Texas Gov. Abbott is spreading a conspiracy theory that attacks Muslims
North Texas is a religiously diverse place. Not only are there numerous Protestant megachurches, there also are Mainline Protestants, Catholics, Buddhists, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus and more. Many, like myself, consider the religious diversity one of the draws of the area….
Texas on the brink of finalizing a school voucher bill
After years of opposition from rural Republicans and urban Democrats, the Texas Legislature passed a school voucher bill April 17. Texas now joins at least 15 other states with some form of taxpayer-funded vouchers for private education that critics say…
If you want to criticize Jasmine Crockett, you better criticize Trump first
President Donald Trump has unleashed a torrent of vileness against U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D- Texas, for calling Texas Gov. Greg Abbott “Governor Hot Wheels.” Whether you like what Crockett said or not, Trump and his allies have ceded all…
Five ways the Texas school voucher bill is cruel
Here’s some basic arithmetic for you: The proposed school voucher bill approved tonight in the Texas Senate is cruel in at least five fundamental ways. First, it stacks the deck against public education, the bedrock of our democratic society. This…
Here’s what tax dollars will fund with the Texas school voucher bill
With proposed legislation to create school vouchers in Texas, a majority of taxpayer money could go to private schools that teach anti-science ideas and young-earth creationism. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has made “school choice” his mission over the last few…
United Women in Faith and Texas Impact converge on Texas Capitol
United Women in Faith (previously known as United Methodist Women) is one of the largest denominational faith organizations for women in the United States. Since 1987, the Texas Conference of United Women in Faith has partnered with Texas Impact —…
Why is Texas Gov. Greg Abbott violating Article VI of the U.S. Constitution?
Article VI of the U.S. Constitution states, in part: “No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.” Yet, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is violating this article of the…
Immigration advocates slam Biden White House again
The Biden administration has once again made asylum more challenging to obtain just as migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border are dropping to recent lows. Advocates are protesting the move they say will exacerbate the already high numbers of migrant…
Another Paxton attack on migrant ministries in El Paso stopped by a judge
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s investigation of faith-based migrant shelters suffered another blow when a state judge exempted a Catholic Charities director from having to give a deposition. Paxton sought to question Sister Norma Pimentel, executive director of Catholic Charities…
Pope Francis calls Ken Paxton’s attack on Annunciation House ‘sheer madness,’ and Texas judge agrees
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s effort to shutter a faith-based migrant shelter violates the U.S. Constitution’s Fourth Amendment prohibition against unreasonable search and seizure, an El Paso judge ruled. Paxton had sued Catholic-run Annunciation House earlier this year, demanding access…
Gov. Abbott claims victory on school vouchers but chief critic says he’s counting his chickens before they hatch
The Texas Legislature now stands on the cusp of passing school voucher legislation, thanks to the results of primary runoffs held statewide May 28. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a staunch supporter of private school vouchers funded with taxpayer money, declared…