Dear Ryan Walters

As far as we know, none of the founders used the term “separation of church and state.” What they said was, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” In other words, government is not in the religion business.  There will be no state religion. Each citizen has the right to practice his or her religion, whatever that religion is. All of these add up to separation of church and state.

Now that we’ve covered the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause,  let’s talk about the Bible.  Given your push to turn Oklahoma schools into Christian indoctrination zones, I assume you’ve read the Bible. To be Christian is to be a follower of Christ.

He asked us to feed the hungry, heal the sick, and welcome the stranger. He didn’t use the exact words, “Apply for the summer food program for hungry kids.”  But, don’t you think he would have expected you to understand that it was the right thing for you and the governor to do?

One more thing! Before you insist that we put the Ten Commandments on classroom walls, can you please explain to elementary teachers how they are to explain adultery to their students. What will we say when a child asks what it means for someone to covet his neighbor’s wife?  In return for the lesson, I bet a teacher can explain to you how hanging the Ten Commandments on public school walls violates the First Amendment.