I am a Christian and a proud member of a small Baptist church here in Waco. Over the past year, I've had the privilege of visiting 100 different places of worship across McLennan County—Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopal, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Unitarian, and even one of our Jewish synagogues. These visits weren’t about politics, but about truly understanding the rich religious diversity in our community. I believe that to represent all of us fairly, I need to experience how we worship the Creator in our many, beautiful ways. And I deeply respect those who choose not to worship at all.
Every Sunday, I’ve been inspired by the diversity of faith and practice right here in our hometown. Our freedom to worship, guaranteed by the First Amendment, is a gift. It’s also a responsibility, reminding us of the importance of religious freedom and the separation of Church and State. Both are under attack today, and it’s time we defend them.
My opponent, Pat Curry, believes that his version of religion—Christian Nationalism—should be forced by our government in our public spaces, our schools, and our government. He has shared these views with me personally and emphasized them in a recent interview with the Baylor Lariat, where he stated, “We need God back in our government.” He argues that our Constitution is based on religious principles and that we need to return to those ideals.
But any true student of history knows the Constitution was designed to keep religion and government separate. The Pilgrims fled England to escape the imposition of the king’s religion. The Founding Fathers were not a monolith of Christian beliefs; they held various perspectives. While some, like John Jay and Patrick Henry, were Christians, others like Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine were Deists who rejected Christianity. Figures such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams respected Christianity but did not believe Jesus was the Son of God or that he could perform miracles. The Constitution they crafted, that we have lived by for more than 200 years, intentionally separates religion from the state.
If you believe in the religious freedoms granted by our Founding Fathers, I’m asking for your vote on November 5th. Let’s not impose religious divisions on our children. Instead, let’s return to listening to one another, respecting each other’s beliefs, and working together to create real progress for our community.
Vote Erin Shank for Texas House on November 5th.
Paid political advertisement by Erin Shank for Texas House.
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