Texas Freedom Network
Encyclopedia
The Texas Freedom Network (TFN) is a Texas
organization formed to protect religious freedom, defend civil liberties
, and strengthen public schools in the State of Texas. Their activism takes the form of grassroots organizing to counter the activities of the Christian Right in the state, providing an alternative media perspective on issues, training people to identify and oppose the Christian Right's activities, promote tolerance of other people's religious freedom, and providing policy alternatives. It was formed in 1996 by Cecile Richards
. As of the late 1990s, it had fewer than three thousand contributors and only three full time staff, but had been relatively successful in its media efforts and has been credited for making it more difficult for the Christian Right to get its message out uncontested. By 2004 it had 19,000 members.
The TFN has opposed the attempts of Don McLeroy
and other religious conservatives on the Texas State Board of Education to mandate that Texas high schools offer Bible classes and change history textbook standards, arguing that many of the proposed changes violate religious freedom and the separation of church and state. TFN has also closely followed the activities of the Board of Education and activists on other education issues, such as the teaching of evolution in public schools.
curriculum for promoting a fundamentalist Christian view and violating religious freedom. It commissioned a report by Southern Methodist University
biblical scholar Mark A. Chancey, which found:
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
organization formed to protect religious freedom, defend civil liberties
Civil liberties
Civil liberties are rights and freedoms that provide an individual specific rights such as the freedom from slavery and forced labour, freedom from torture and death, the right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, the right to defend one's self, the right to own and bear arms, the right...
, and strengthen public schools in the State of Texas. Their activism takes the form of grassroots organizing to counter the activities of the Christian Right in the state, providing an alternative media perspective on issues, training people to identify and oppose the Christian Right's activities, promote tolerance of other people's religious freedom, and providing policy alternatives. It was formed in 1996 by Cecile Richards
Cecile Richards
Cecile Richards a Democratic Party activist and the current president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.-Political involvement:...
. As of the late 1990s, it had fewer than three thousand contributors and only three full time staff, but had been relatively successful in its media efforts and has been credited for making it more difficult for the Christian Right to get its message out uncontested. By 2004 it had 19,000 members.
Leadership and direction
Under Richards' leadership the organization focused mainly on education, but under the leadership of Samantha Smoot (1998-2004) it broadened its focus to include hate crimes and gay rights. As of February 2009, Kathy Miller is the president.The TFN has opposed the attempts of Don McLeroy
Don McLeroy
John Donald "Don" McLeroy is a dentist in Bryan, Texas and a departing Republican member of the Texas State Board of Education, which establishes policy for the Texas public school system. Dr. McLeroy, who represents SBOE District 9 , has been on the board since 1998...
and other religious conservatives on the Texas State Board of Education to mandate that Texas high schools offer Bible classes and change history textbook standards, arguing that many of the proposed changes violate religious freedom and the separation of church and state. TFN has also closely followed the activities of the Board of Education and activists on other education issues, such as the teaching of evolution in public schools.
Bible study curricula
In 2005 TFN criticized the National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public SchoolsNational Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools
The National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools is a nonprofit organization that promotes the use of its 300-page Bible curriculum, The Bible in History and Literature, in schools throughout the United States...
curriculum for promoting a fundamentalist Christian view and violating religious freedom. It commissioned a report by Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
biblical scholar Mark A. Chancey, which found:
Evolution curricula
In a survey commissioned by TFN, "94% of Texas scientists indicated that claimed "weaknesses" are not valid scientific objections to evolution (with 87% saying that they “strongly disagree” that such weaknesses should be considered valid)."Other issues
- In February 2009 a TFN-funded study conducted by two Texas State University researchers, titled Just Say Don't Know: Sexuality Education in Texas Public Schools found that in many cases, students are given misleading and inaccurate information about the risks associated with sex.