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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Religious chaplains could soon be offering “counseling” in Ohio’s public schools under a new bill that’s raising serious questions about the line between faith-based guidance and mental health support. On the Today in Ohio podcast, hosts Leila Atassi and Lisa Garvin unpacked the implications of House Bill 531 — legislation introduced by Republican Representatives Kevin Ritter of Marietta and Johnathan Newman of Dayton — which would allow religious chaplains to volunteer in public schools to provide what supporters call “mental health and moral support.” The services would be voluntary, require written parental consent, and chaplains would undergo background checks like other school staff. “I feel like this bill is really walking a fine line,” said Atassi. “It’s being sold as a way to support kids’ mental health. But what it’s actually doing is blurring that boundary between evangelizing in public schools and what they’re calling counseling.” The bill raises deeper questions about who should provide emotional and mental health care to students — and what credentials they should have. Democratic Representative Sean Brennan of Parma pointed out that these chaplains “are not licensed counselors,” warning of “the line between appropriate and inappropriate help to the students.” While 11 other states already allow school chaplain programs, critics worry Ohio’s proposal is another attempt to undermine the separation of church and state. As Garvin noted, “Well, to me, because of people trying to erode the line between church and state, this is another foot in the door.” Supporters argue that chaplains are already trusted figures in hospitals, prisons, and the military, and that parents must give written permission before children access their services. But critics are alarmed by a lesser-known provision governing how school districts adopt or reject the initiative. “What I found especially troubling is that the bill forces every school, every school board in Ohio to take a public vote up or down on whether to allow these chaplains, even if no one in their district is asking for it,” Atassi explained. “And that feels like it’s undermining local control. It feels like a mandate to have a culture war, on the record.” That provision, the hosts said, could thrust local school boards into political crossfire — forcing communities to publicly choose between welcoming religion into schools or appearing hostile to it. Listen to the full discussion here. Read more Today in Ohio news Can you put a price on history? The Shaker Lakes battle just might Ohio just cut off cancer screenings and birth control for thousands — all to punish Planned Parenthood Ohio Supreme Court revisits DeWine’s rejection of $900M in pandemic aid — but don’t expect a reversal
