Mike Pence calls criticism of wife's teaching job an attack on Christian education

After a backlash surrounding his wife's hiring at a Christian school that excludes LGBT students and employees, Mike Pence went on Christian TV on Thursday night to decry the criticism, saying "this criticism of Christian education in America should stop."

"To see major news organizations attacking Christian education is deeply offensive to us," Pence said in the interview with Lauren Ashburn of EWTN, a cable TV network presenting Catholic-themed programming.

Pence's interview followed coverage of second lady Karen Pence's decision to go back to work as a teacher at Immanuel Christian School in Northern Virginia, which bans gay employees, students and the children of gay parents.

She had previously taught at the elementary school for 12 years, while Pence was an Indiana congressman.

"We have a rich tradition in America of Christian education and, frankly, religious education broadly defined," Pence, who was raised a Catholic before becoming an evangelical, said in the interview on EWTN, which stands for Eternal Word Television Network. "We celebrate it. The freedom of religion is enshrined in the Constitution of the United States."

"We'll let the other critics roll off our back, but this criticism of Christian education in America should stop."

LGBT community responds to hiring

US Vice President Mike Pence greets Second Lady Karen Pence before speaking at the 45th annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, USA, 22 February 2018.

The second lady's choice of employer drew surprise and ire from some members of Indianapolis' LGBT community.

Chris Paulsen, CEO of the LGBT-service provider Indiana Youth Group, said Pence's decision to teach at the school is disheartening. She also said LGBT youth are more likely to contemplate suicide.

"It really confounds me how someone can say they want to help youth but then work in an institution that harms kids (by not teaching inclusiveness)," Paulsen said. 

Rick Sutton, an LGBT advocate who co-founded Freedom Indiana, called the second lady's employment decision "certainly not helpful."

He then went on to say, "There's almost nothing the Pences can do to redeem themselves in our eyes at this point."

LGBT response:Group sends book about gay marriage to school

Pence spokeswoman: Criticism 'absurd'

A spokeswoman for Karen Pence called the attacks against the second lady "absurd." 

"Mrs. Pence has returned to the school where she previously taught for 12 years," her spokeswoman, Kara Brooks, said in a prepared statement. "It's absurd that her decision to teach art to children at a Christian school, and the school's religious beliefs, are under attack."

Mike Pence, the former Indiana governor, has long maintained that marriage is between a man and a woman.

However, the passage of a controversial "religious freedom law" during his time as governor opened the state to intense criticism from the LGBT and business communities. While Pence insisted the law was meant to allow Christian businesses to follow their religious convictions, critics thought it was a thinly veiled attempt to give government sanction to discriminate against gays and lesbians.

Controversy with Joy Behar

Vice President Mike Pence meeting U.S. troops in Japan on Feb. 8, 2018.

Pence also was embroiled in a controversy with daytime talk-show host Joy Behar over his religion in March 2018.

The feud began after Behar, one of the co-hosts of "The View," quipped on that show that Pence must be mentally ill after former White House aide Omarosa Manigault said "(Pence) thinks Jesus tells him to say things" on an episode of CBS' "Big Brother: Celebrity Edition." 

The vice president then did an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity in which he criticized Behar for her comments.

Pence told Hannity that he expected some criticism as a public leader, but added "I felt it was important that I defend the faith of tens of millions of Americans against that kind of slander."

In the end, Behar made a public apology on "The View."

IndyStar reporters Chris Sikich, Arika Herron and Holly V. Hays contributed to this story. Call IndyStar digital producer Dwight Adams at (317) 444-6532. Follow him on Twitter: @hdwightadams.

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