Religious Freedom

Did you know there is a proposed amendment to the Florida Consitution for Religious Freedom?

Let's take a quick look at it:

"An individual or entity may not be barred from participating in any public program because of religion."

That looks reasonable but then the amendment goes on to remove this next section, a prohibition of using state funds as follows:

"No revenue of the state or any political subdivision or agency thereof shall ever be taken from the public treasury directly or indirectly in aid of any church, sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution."

That paragraph looks innocent enough. Here's what I see as fallout from this seemngly good idea.   Correct me if I'm wrong.   it appears that any church. or groups calling themselves a church, or for that matter a cult or a terrorist group could receive taxpayer funds from the state.   The amendment does not limit the funding to school vouchers but leaves wide open the options for the funds to be used.  The amendment also fails to determine how the decision would be made to fund such organizations AND it leaves open the door for groups that are turned down to file suit to get funding.  I'm sorry but this particular amendment as proposed looks like a train wreck and I would hope the state's voters would reject it, but, alas it has the title of Religious Freedom so it will probably pass (sighs)

JD