Freedom From Religion group condemns charter school bill veto override

A national advocacy group is "condemning" the legislature's veto override that will allow mount carmel school to become a public charter school.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation says the measure continues "the upsetting trend of government entities trying to fund religious education."

It follows a recent Oklahoma school board action, which established the nation's first publicly funded religious charter school.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero rejected the bill by Sen. Chris Barnett, in part because she argued that it violates the constitution and the Guam Organic Act which prohibit public schools from discriminating based on religion, or promoting or coercing students to engage in religious activities."

But Barnett said during his override motion that the bill was meant to provide a conversion process for private schools to become public charters.

Sen. Joe San Agustin said he was concerned about the "separation of church and state," but voted in favor of the override after Mount Carmel  School officials assured him there would be no "religion" taught.

KUAM News has scheduled an interview with the attorney for the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and with Mount Carmel representative, local attorney Mike Phillips.