A Christian lawmaker from Wisconsin is being asked by an atheist group to stop the weekly Bible study he is offering at the state capitol building.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) sent a letter to Wisconsin Rep. Paul Tittl last week, asking him to move the Bible study out of the government building or discontinue the meeting altogether, Christian News reported.
Tittl, who describes himself as a follower of the Evangelical Free denomination, conducts Bible study every Wednesday in his office at the capitol building, where he invites other state workers to attend.
In an interview with CBN News, the Wisconsin lawmaker insisted that practicing one's faith does not have to be restricted to certain places.
"Faith is a huge part of my life," Tittl said. "It doesn't stop because I come to the state Capitol."
The atheist group, led by co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor, argued however that Tittl should not use government property for his religious activities.
"There are several churches within a few blocks of that Capitol that we are confident would be willing to host your religious event," Gaylor said in his letter to the lawmaker, as quoted by Christian News.
"If, on the other hand, you now wish to alter your argument and claim that these Bible studies are in fact state work, that raises serious constitutional concerns," she added.
Gaylor further reminded Tittl that he serves "a population that consists of not only Bible believers, but also atheists, agnostics, Muslims, and Hindus among others."
Tittl's colleagues, however, do not find anything wrong or offensive about the Wisconsin lawmaker's weekly Bible study. For instance, Democratic Rep. Jonathan Brostoff, who is Jewish, said he even attends the Bible study to understand the Christian faith more.
Brostoff also said that Tittl does not favour any particular religion with his Bible study, and even provides an opportunity for state capitol workers to get to know each other even more.
