Church & The Bayou State: Religion in Louisiana (2010)
Louisiana Public Square

Details
Collection:LPB
Genre: Public Affairs, Panel
Place Covered: Louisiana
Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority
Date Issued: 2010-05-26
Duration: 00:56:49
Subjects: Filmed panel discussions | Religion | Government | Prayer in the public schools | Sex Education | CREATIONISM | Evolution | Education | Ethics | Morality
Contributors:
- Courtney, Beth Host
- Freeman, Craig Host
- Gautreaux, Kevin Producer
- Godoy, Al Producer
- Sanford, Shauna Narrator
- Sandoz, Ellis Interviewee
- Forrest, Barbara Interviewee
- Perkins, Tony Interviewee
- Husser, Louis Interviewee
- Tasman, Rob Interviewee
- Woodland, Phil Interviewee
- O'Laughlin, Troy Speaker
- Amoroso, Buddy Speaker
- Kebanli, Julia Speaker
- Matherne, Hannah Speaker
- Johnson, James Speaker
- Broussard, Alex Speaker
- Parekh, Kalpana Speaker
- Johnson, Tony Speaker
- Brody, Guy Speaker
- Dye, Benjamin Speaker
- Blackburn, Norvel Speaker
- Martin, Mallory Speaker
- Morgan, George Speaker
- Cyrus, Leo Panelist
- Jarrell, Michael Panelist
- Gaddy, Welton Panelist
- Ward, Ken Panelist
Description
This episode of the series “Louisiana Public Square” from May 26, 2010, features Craig Freeman leading a discussion between the audience members and panelists on the role of religion in public life in Louisiana. A background report on the topic precedes the discussion. The audience members discuss: the relationship between church and state; the principles of the Founding Fathers; prayer in public schools; teaching sex education in schools; teaching creationism and the theory of evolution in schools; and whether it is harmful to have God in society. A panel of experts then joins the audience to answer their questions. The panelists are: Reverend Leo Cyrus, the pastor at the Second Baptist Church and New Hope Baptist Church in Baton Rouge; Bishop Michael Jarrell of the Catholic Diocese of Lafayette; Reverend Welton Gaddy of Monroe, the president of the Washington, D.C.- based Interfaith Alliance; and Ken Ward, the executive director of the Louisiana Moral and Civic Foundation. They discuss: the role of religion in the political process; teaching sex education in schools; society’s tolerance of alternative lifestyles; teaching creationism and the theory of evolution in schools; ethics and morality; prayer in public schools; and the importance of having respect for other people’s beliefs. Hosts: Beth Courtney and Craig Freeman