Lawyers lay out arguments in evolution trial

[Maranatha]

HARRISBURG, Pa. - “Intelligent design” is a religious theory that was inserted in a school district’s curriculum with no concern for whether it had scientific underpinnings, a lawyer told a federal judge Monday as a landmark trial got under way.

“They did everything you would do if you wanted to incorporate a religious point of view in science class and cared nothing about its scientific validity,” said Eric Rothschild, an attorney representing eight families who are challenging the decision of the Dover Area School District.

But in his opening statement, the school district’s attorney defended Dover’s policy of requiring ninth-grade students to hear a brief statement about intelligent design before biology classes on evolution.

This case is about free inquiry in education, not about a religious agenda,” argued Patrick Gillen of the Thomas More Law Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. “Dover’s modest curriculum change embodies the essence of liberal education.” The center, which lobbies for what it sees as the religious freedom of Christians, is defending the school district.

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[cathologos]

Eight of the nine members of the Dover Area School Board were up for re-election yesterday.

All eight of them lost.

 

[AJC]

Maranatha:

HARRISBURG, Pa. - “Intelligent design” is a religious theory that was inserted in a school district’s curriculum with no concern for whether it had scientific underpinnings, a lawyer told a federal judge Monday as a landmark trial got under way.

“They did everything you would do if you wanted to incorporate a religious point of view in science class and cared nothing about its scientific validity,” said Eric Rothschild, an attorney representing eight families who are challenging the decision of the Dover Area School District.

But in his opening statement, the school district’s attorney defended Dover’s policy of requiring ninth-grade students to hear a brief statement about intelligent design before biology classes on evolution.

This case is about free inquiry in education, not about a religious agenda,” argued Patrick Gillen of the Thomas More Law Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. “Dover’s modest curriculum change embodies the essence of liberal education.” The center, which lobbies for what it sees as the religious freedom of Christians, is defending the school district.

more

While this is not a Catholic fight it does trouble me to see, if you Google the Dover School Board Election results today, 11/09/05, to see the Science and Atheist web sites symbolically dancing in the streets. I am troubled that many Catholic clergy who have spoken on this topic somehow see this as an issue of the so-called “religious right” trying to foist its beliefs on everyone else in the US. I see it as an issue of free inquiry.

Why does the Roman Catholic Church in the US always seem to side, for the most part, with liberal Protestant denominations and secular forces in society? That troubles me.

At any rate the judge in this case, if he does decide, will probably not render a decision because of the Dover, PA school board election results. On the other hand when Christians run for any political office they should not do so with a hidden agenda.

AJC

 

[MikeWM]

AJC:

Why does the Roman Catholic Church in the US always seem to side, for the most part, with liberal Protestant denominations and secular forces in society? That troubles me.

It’s not always a bad thing if people agree you know. One should be wary of too much agreement, but also of disagreement for the sake of it.

Personally I am happy. Evolution in science class and non-scientific theories in non-scientific classes.

Mike