ARLINGTON, VA - In a controversial new episode of educational cartoon Arthur , PBS showed the eponymous character's teacher, Mr. Ratburn, coming out as a conservative Christian.

The episode kicked off the show's latest season. In an emotional ceremony that all the kids attend, Ratburn gets baptized at a local conservative Baptist church, publicly giving his life to the Lord Jesus. The children applaud for his decision, bravely coming out as a Christian in the public school system, and on a public television station no less.

"It just seemed like the natural next step for us as a kids' show," said one writer of the controversial episode. "Children get to see this man living out his truth in a hostile environment, even though he'll probably lose his job and his reputation for this brave

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