Calling on the City Council of Philadelphia to support the efforts of The Honorable Stewart J. Greenleaf, State Senator, 12th District, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as he introduces legislation to amend the Public School Code of 1949 by providing for greater awareness of religious freedoms in public schools.

WHEREAS, Senator Greenleaf has served the 12th Senatorial District in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania since 1978; and

WHEREAS, Senator Greenleaf is Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee and the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee; and

WHEREAS, Senator Greenleaf's legislation, which aims to “Provide greater awareness to school administrators, teachers, parents and students on the matter of religious expression in public schools . . . [and] clarify any misunderstandings about religion and the public schools,” roots itself in one of this country's founding principles - religious freedom; and

WHEREAS, Said legislation will allow the Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to make available - for informational purposes - the United States Department of Education's brief, Guidance on Constitutionally Protected Prayer in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools (February 7, 2003); and

WHEREAS, Said legislation will allow the Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to disseminate any additional relevant information concerning religious freedoms; and

WHEREAS, Said legislation will, under the direction of the Secretary of Education, allow and obligate all school districts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania the same privilege and power of promulgation relating to religious freedoms in public schools; and

WHEREAS, Providing previously released documents for the sole purpose of informing the public to their existence and of their rights as citizens is secular and neutral in nature, does not advance, nor does it inhibit (religion), and is not excessive government entanglement; now therefore, be it,

Resolved, That the City Council of Philadelphia, Supports the efforts of The Honorable Stewart J. Greenleaf, State Senator, 12th District, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as he introduces legislation to amend the Public School Code of 1949 by providing for greater awareness of religious freedoms in public schools.

Further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to all members of the State Senate and State House of Representatives and the Governor of the State of Pennsylvania.

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