Update: The Associated Press has issued a correction to this story, AP stated a bill would require the state's public schools to offer elective Bible classes, but the bill requires the Kentucky Board of Education to set administrative regulations about Bible classes, though local schools will decide whether to offer those classes.
Corrected Story:
A Kentucky Senate committee has approved a pair of bills that would make make the state Board of Education set guidelines for public schools to offer a Bible history course and require students to pass a civics test before graduating.
The Senate Education Committee voted overwhelmingly to approve Senate Bills 138 and 159 on Thursday.
Senate Bill 159 would require students to pass the same test immigrants must pass before becoming U.S. citizens.
Senate Bill 138 would require the Kentucky Board of Education to set guidelines for an elective social studies course on the Bible.
Democratic Senator Robin Webb said the Bible is critical to understanding the culture and history of the United States.
Former state senator Jack Westwood testified in support of the measure. “We feel that Bible knowledge is essential to being able to understand all kinds of artistic and cultural things we have.”
Testifying before the education panel was Kentucky Council of Churches President Kent Gilbert. The Berea pastor expressed some reservations about the measure. “While in favor of religious education, we are not in favor of anything that edges up on the infringements of the freedom of religion, something that is bad for all traditions if it’s inflected on others.”
Gilbert says the Kentucky Council of Churches represents 11 different Christian denominations. The bill now moves to the full senate.
Kate Miller with the American Civil Liberties Union asked if course instructors would teach the Bible or teach about the Bible.
This story has been updated.
