It has been two years since Christian Nationalists pushed through a change in the Ohio Released Time Religious Instruction law to benefit the religious group LifeWise Academy. Their main plan is to indoctrinate and recruit public school children by removing them from school in the middle of the day for bible classes.

Our guest is Keith Comer from Respect Public Schools has been tracking the moves of Lifewise and other RTRI programs in the state and the country.

We start by reviewing key Supreme Court cases and related law. We mentions Everson v. Board of Education, McCollum v. Board of Education, and Zorach v. Clauson, describing the last case as allowing off-campus religious instruction if parents agree and public funds are not used. We also explains that Ohio later passed a law in 2014 providing a framework for these programs.

Keith Comer of Respect Public Schools describes how he became involved after seeing Ohio House Bill 445, which would have required schools to cooperate with LifeWise. He explains that he created an online map using public information from LifeWise’s website. Comer says parents can always remove their children from school for religious instruction, but schools are not constitutionally required to coordinate these programs unless state law forces them to do so. He says LifeWise sought such laws in several states after encountering resistance.

Part 1 also focuses on classroom disruption and recruitment. Comer says taking elementary students out during the school day disrupts instruction, especially when programs target specials, lunch, or recess. LifeWise’s goal is not simply to offer a class, but to increase church attendance and recruit children at a young age.

Then we address LifeWise’s finances and political connections. Comer says the group collects substantial money, sends a significant portion to headquarters, and works with organizations such as the Family Research Council, Alliance Defending Freedom, and Moms for Liberty.

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