School districts across the United States, unfortunately, have to prepare for tragedies inside the walls of the classroom. For the past decade, we've seen horrible incidents of school violence through hostage-taking in Colorado, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. No one disputes the need for proper preparation for school officials and emergency responders. But what happened in Burlington Township High School last week is inexcusable. Preparing for potential hostage-taking is one thing; blaming the hostage-taking on conservative Christians is not only inappropriate, but outrageous and raises serious constitutional questions as well.

School officials in Burlington Township, New Jersey stated, "We need to practice under conditions as real as possible in order to evaluate our procedures and plans so that they are as effective as possible." Accordingly, two police officers, playing the role of armed intruders, invaded the school and pretended to shoot several students in a mock exercise. Several students volunteered to act as hostages or as wounded victims. The officers barricaded themselves in the school's media center with ten student hostages. The school resource officer and the Burlington Township Joint Tactical Team worked to secure the school, and faculty members simulated a lock-down and evacuation.

Investigators described the gunmen as "members of a right-wing fundamentalist group called 'The New Crusaders,' who don't believe in the separation of church and state." The mock gunmen went to the school seeking justice "because the daughter of one had been expelled for praying before class."

Many Christian students were outraged by the school's mockery of their religious beliefs. Parents and other members of the community are equally offended by the school's anti-Christian animosity. Frankly, this kind of anti-Christian bigotry by school officials is despicable and is not related in any way to the legitimate purposes of a hostage drill. In fact, the Constitution forbids public school officials from demonstrating this kind of open hostility towards religious beliefs with which they disagree. Furthermore, the whole predicate of the exercise is outrageous. The perpetrators of the hostage-taking were allegedly motivated because their daughter had been expelled for praying before the beginning of the school day. Not only do students have the right to pray before the school day, but Burlington Township officials acknowledge that they have that right. So this entire scenario was unrealistic, unnecessary and offensive. How the school superintendent could say with a straight face that they needed to "practice under conditions as real as possible … in order to evaluate our procedures and plans so that they are as effective as possible," while at the same time using this unbelievable fictional scenario defies common sense. Could you imagine the outrage if this fictional scenario involved any other religious group? No other religious group in America would tolerate this kind of insult.

To add insult to injury, the School District issued a belated statement saying that they knew there were "concerns" raised by the exercise, and that "any perceived insensitivities to our religious community as a result of the emergency exercise scenario are regrettable." The fact that the School District said "any perceived insensitivities" is as outrageous as their allowing the exercise to take place portraying Christians in such a negative light in the first place. The School District went on to say that the perceived insensitivities "to our religious community as a result of the emergency exercise scenario are regrettable." Frankly, this statement is not enough. In fact, in a statement to the press, those involved in the mock exercise are calling it a success. The only thing the School District did successfully here was offend a large body of the citizens of Burlington Township and others throughout the country. In order to rectify this outrage, the school needs to do three things: First, issue a public apology. Second, state that this kind of fictional scenario will never be utilized again. Third, adopt a policy that specifically sets forth parameters for these kinds of exercises in the future.

Protect our students in the public schools—absolutely. Offend people of sincere faith in the process—unnecessary and unconstitutional. The Supreme Court has said that showing hostility towards religion is a violation of the Establishment Clause. Here, the School District was successful all right—successful in offending all of us who take our faith seriously.