Church Program Distributing Shoes In Schools Is Questioned

Americans United said yesterday that it has sent letters to school officials in two South Carolina counties objecting to a church-run program that distributes new shoes to needy children in 25 public schools, but asks them to take part in the Christian ritual of foot-washing as part of the program. AU claims that the"Laces4Love" program run by the First Baptist Church of North Augusta (SC) violates principles of separation of church and state. According to the AP, school officials defend the program saying that each child, not school officials, decide if they want to participate in the foot washing. However, AU director Barry Lynn said that merely the fact that the shoes and socks come from a church group and are distributed in the schools by church officials creates church-state concerns.