Satanists Take Aim at Christian Kids Programs, Leader Responds

The founder of a Christian organization that provides kids with religious instruction during the public school day is responding to Satanists' attempts to offer their own alternative programming to children. Joel Penton, founder and CEO of LifeWise Academy and author of the book, "During School Hours: WHY and HOW LifeWise Academy is Reinstalling Religious Education into the Public School Day," told CBN News he believes The Satanic Temple's "Hellion Academy of Independent Learning" (HAIL) being offered to children at an Ohio elementary school is a direct "response" to his LifeWise academy programming. "The messages that we're getting from those who are launching the program are somewhat mixed," Penton said. "At times, they will say this is explicitly an attempt to scare the school board and communities into shutting down all religious programs like ours ... Other times, they'll say, 'Oh, but you shouldn't be scared of this because it is going to teach kindness, and values, and that type of thing.'" From Penton's perspective, it's "not super clear exactly what the program is about," though, like LifeWise, it enables children to leave the premises to take part in The Satanic Temple's alternative effort. As CBN News previously reported, HAIL will be offered to children at Edgewood Elementary School in the Marysville School District and is reportedly offered at one other location in Pennsylvania. Penton said it appears HAIL is not only a response to LifeWise and other similar programs but that it could also be a "last-minute attempt to stop or delay the legislation that's working its way through the Ohio State House right now, which will give the right of religious instruction to all families." House Bill 8 includes a provision that would require public schools in Ohio to have policies that allow for release-time programs. The new policy would change the "may" in current law to "shall," thus making such guidelines a mandate. Release time — which has been ruled constitutional by the Supreme Court — allows kids to get religious instruction during the school day. "[It's usually] one time per week, usually during ... a lunch, recess, or library time, or a special time," he said. "Students can typically jump on the big, red LifeWise bus and head down the street to the church down the road and receive ... a Gospel-centered Bible education class right during their public school day." Penton is hoping to see Ohio pass the "shall" language so that parents can be put in the driver's seat of their children's education. Want more news from a Christian Perspective? Choose to support CBN: https://go.cbn.com/ugWBn CBN News. Because Truth Matters™ Download the free CBN News App: http://cbnnews.com/app SUBSCRIBE to the CBN News Channel for more: http://youtube.com/c/CBNnewsonline/?sub_confirmation=1 SUBSCRIBE to the QuickStart Newsletter by visiting quickstart.news SUBSCRIBE to the Quickstart Podcast. New episodes every morning at 7am: cbn.com/cbnnews/quickstart What's coming up next? Have a look at our program guide: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww1.cbn.com%2Fcbnnews%2Fnewschann&redir_token=3Xja-7LE5ZQebEu1fn-B5ib34tN8MTU3OTg4MjMzMkAxNTc5Nzk1OTMy&v=P0mHVeNNfDw&event=video_description CBN features 24-hour TV news from a Christian perspective. The CBN News Channel provides independent news programming to an underserved audience to enlighten, entertain and inspire Christians around the world. Comments below do not necessarily reflect the views of CBN. Share this live feed with your friends and family: https://www.youtube.com/c/CBNnewsonline Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cbnnews/ Like us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CBNNews Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbnnews/ Contact News Editors: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww1.cbn.com%2Fcontact%2Fcontact-&redir_token=3Xja-7LE5ZQebEu1fn-B5ib34tN8MTU3OTg4MjMzMkAxNTc5Nzk1OTMy&v=P0mHVeNNfDw&event=video_description Questions about other CBN programs: Visit WatchCBNNews.com or call (888) 700-7000. Questions about supporting CBN News? Visit JoinCBNNews.com or call (888) 700-7000 for more information. Questions about Helping the Home Front? Call: 800-700-7000 https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww1.cbn.com%2F700club%2Fhelping-&redir_token=3Xja-7LE5ZQebEu1fn-B5ib34tN8MTU3OTg4MjMzMkAxNTc5Nzk1OTMy&v=P0mHVeNNfDw&event=video_description #breakingnews #politicalnews #christiannews #christian #christianity #church #breakingnews #cbnnews