Creationists in Louisiana Eager to Litigate for Jesus
In Louisiana, where Republican governor Bobby Jindal signed into law a stealth creationist bill (disguised as “academic freedom”) crafted by the Discovery Institute, religious fanatics are getting eager to start pushing the envelope. The Advocate has a report on the Livingston Parish School Board, where the creationists are going to have to wait another year: Livingston School Board: No creationism this year.
Why are they waiting? What could be more important than foisting off Dark Ages superstition on the impressionable young minds of other people’s children, in the name of “academic freedom?”
The fact that they’ll get sued instantly.
LIVINGSTON — The Livingston Parish School Board won’t try to include the teaching of creationism in this year’s curriculum, but has asked the School Board staff to look at the issue for possible future action, board officials said.
A decision to teach creationism could become expensive for the parish school system, said Marjorie Esman, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union.
“If they were to do it, they could anticipate that any litigation would result in them not only losing, but having to pay enormous legal fees,” she said. “They would be wasting a huge amount of taxpayer money on a battle they can’t win.”
Nonetheless, the creationists are getting antsy. They’re ready to litigate for Jesus.
David Tate, the School Board member who brought up the matter at the board’s last meeting, said he would rather not see litigation, but added that the board gets sued on other matters.
“We don’t want litigation, but why not take a stand for Jesus and risk litigation,” Tate said.