'Religious Freedom' amendment reignites school voucher debate
By | The Tampa Tribune
Published: September 30, 2012
Published: September 30, 2012
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TAMPA --
The ballot title says it's an issue about religious freedom.
Supporters, including Catholics statewide, say it's all about making sure that soup kitchens, elder care and other services provided by faith-based organizations aren't left out in the cold.
Opponents say it's a smokescreen designed to pave the way for a school voucher program at church-run schools, and that it will erode the separation between church and state. A school board member in Alachua County even called it "the very death of public schools."
Either way, the 72-word Amendment 8, titled "Religious Freedom" and sponsored by the Florida Legislature, has created a firestorm of controversy as the Nov. 6 election nears.