Bartlett pleased at governor’s approval of school prayer proposal

INDIANAPOLIS – State Rep. John Bartlett (D-Indianapolis), author of House Enrolled Act 1024, issued the following statement after Gov. Eric Holcomb signed the measure confirming religious civil liberties for students into law:

“From the start, this has never been an effort to ‘force’ anyone to pray in schools. Decisions involving faith should be left to each one of us.

“What it has been is an effort to make sure that anyone who wants to pray in our schools can do so without fear that they are breaking some kind of law.

“I look at all the chaos and turmoil that children growing up in this day and age face, and I want them to be able to find answers that do not involve using guns and violence. Maybe this can help us figure out that it’s better to talk through our problems instead of using other means.

“I believe that prayer offers a chance for each of us to attempt to deal with the problems we face in life, and a way that we can begin to find answers that make us better people.

“I want to make sure that everyone knows that they can have that dialogue when they are at school. Many of the concepts contained within the Act already are standard practice at most schools across Indiana. I wanted to have some clarity and provide a guide of where they can go.

“Will this solve all the problems in the world? No, but that was never the intent. I do believe it can help, and that’s as good a place to start as any.”