IN THEORY:State money for rehabilitation

A group called the Freedom From Religion Foundation has sued the state of North Dakota for providing funds to an association that uses Christian teachings to rehabilitate troubled youth. They argue that the funding of the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, which is reportedly affiliated with the Lutheran Church, is unconstitutional because it thrusts religious teachings upon people who may not want them. It is a form of religious indoctrination, they say. Proponents of the program say the youth involved are not forced to be a part of the social service group's religious services. What do you think? Should the state be funding groups that use Christian teachings to help rehabilitate troubled youth?

I don't see anything unconstitutional about a state sending a troubled youth to a religious group for rehabilitation. It's a lot better than sending the culprit to juvenile detention, where he has little chance of rehabilitation. Of course, he shouldn't be forced to practice any religion.

The complaining group, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, is a group of atheists and agnostics. They don't believe in God; or at the least, they say it is impossible to know God. They attempt to make any connection between Church and State unconstitutional. I believe government should use faith-based groups to do some of its social work rather than create new and less efficient agencies. We have gone too far toward a complete separation of church and state. The state wants a peaceful society and religion wants freedom to worship. Church and state need each other. But no state should ever pressure anyone to practice a particular religion.

THE REV. GENE FRILOT

Pastor Emeritus

Incarnation Catholic Church

Glendale

I wonder whether the group suing the state of North Dakota is offering to open its own rehabilitation center to help the troubled young people it may displace. While this is a separate issue from the debate over alleged violations of the Constitution, it is still an important item to address, since the legal battle may have significant real-world consequences.

The 1st Amendment's Establishment Clause, which provides for the separation of church and state, was enacted to restrain government from favoring one religion over another. It was not intended to forbid all association between religious organizations and the state; in fact, our founding fathers instituted many measures that clearly supported religion and religious groups.