GOP Lawmakers Propose Official State Religion

[Avatar4321]

Technically, they aren't wrong. The Constitution does not prohibit the States from establishing State religion. The Founders all recognized it. It's the caselaw that interprets the 14th amendment that outlaws it.

Actually, you’re wrong, you must have missed the cited case law in the OP:

Later we decided Everson v. Board of Education, 330 U.S. 1, at pages 15 and 16, 67 S.Ct. 504, at page 511, and said this:

'The 'establishment of religion' clause of the First Amendment means at least this: Neither a state nor the Federal Government can set up a church. Neither can pass laws which aid one religion, aid all religions, or prefer one religion over another. Neither can force nor influence a person to go to or to remain away from church against his will or force him to profess a belief or disbelief in any religion. No person can be punished for entertaining or professing religious beliefs or disbeliefs, for church attendance or non-attendance. No tax in any amount, large or small, can be levied to support any religious activities or institutions, whatever they may be called, or whatever form they may adopt to teach or practice religion. Neither a state nor the Federal Government can, openly or secretly, participate in the affairs of any religious organizations or groups and vice versa. In the words of Jefferson, the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to erect 'a wall of separation between church and State."

Roy R. TORCASO, Appellant, v. Clayton K. WATKINS, Clerk of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland. | Supreme Court | LII / Legal Information Institute

So Im wrong about the caselaw prohibiting the States from establishing religion because you cite caselaw saying exactly what I said.

Do you bother reading what anyone writes?

 

[Erand7899]

Didn't they try this shit in the Civil War?

What part of United States don't they understand?

What part of soverign state don't you understand?

 

[MeBelle]

Come on lefties. This issue is BS and you know it. All they want to do is be able to say a Christian prayer before convening a session of state legislature without the federal gestapo beating down the doors in the name of a fictional "separation of church/state" statute that does not exist in the Constitution.

I believe they're already doing that.

Prayer at General Assembly continues despite ACLU lawsuit - News14.com

From your OP link:

The legislation was filed in response to a lawsuit to stop county commissioners in Rowan County from opening meetings with a Christian prayer, wral.com reported.

Why isn't everyone up in arms over Congress starting every day they are in session with a prayer?


Bunch of hypocrites!

 

[Lakhota]

Come on lefties. This issue is BS and you know it. All they want to do is be able to say a Christian prayer before convening a session of state legislature without the federal gestapo beating down the doors in the name of a fictional "separation of church/state" statute that does not exist in the Constitution.

I believe they're already doing that.

Prayer at General Assembly continues despite ACLU lawsuit - News14.com

From your OP link:

The legislation was filed in response to a lawsuit to stop county commissioners in Rowan County from opening meetings with a Christian prayer, wral.com reported.

Why isn't everyone up in arms over Congress starting every day they are in session with a prayer?


Bunch of hypocrites!

But they're still praying, right...?

 

[bodecea]

More: North Carolina May Declare Official State Religion Under New Bill

More evidence that North Carolina is no better than some backwater third world country.

with just nicer things.....

Not from what I've seen.

 

[blackhawk]

Is that any more outlandish than thinking you get out of a 16 trillion dollar hole by spending even more and going deeper in debt?

 

[Lakhota]

Is that any more outlandish than thinking you get out of a 16 trillion dollar hole by spending even more and going deeper in debt?

No trolling, please.

 

[hazlnut]

By John Celock

Republican North Carolina state legislators have proposed allowing an official state religion in a measure that would declare the state exempt from the Constitution and court rulings.

The bill, filed Monday by two GOP lawmakers from Rowan County and backed by nine other Republicans, says each state "is sovereign" and courts cannot block a state "from making laws respecting an establishment of religion." The legislation was filed in response to a lawsuit to stop county commissioners in Rowan County from opening meetings with a Christian prayer, wral.com reported.

The bill reads:

SECTION 1. The North Carolina General Assembly asserts that the Constitution of the United States of America does not prohibit states or their subsidiaries from making laws respecting an establishment of religion.

SECTION 2. The North Carolina General Assembly does not recognize federal court rulings which prohibit and otherwise regulate the State of North Carolina, its public schools, or any political subdivisions of the State from making laws respecting an establishment of religion.
​

The North Carolina state constitution disqualifies those who do not believe in God from public office. The provision has been unenforcible since the 1961 Supreme Court decision in Torcaso v. Watkins, which prohibited such bans.

More: North Carolina May Declare Official State Religion Under New Bill

 

[legaleagle_45]

By John Celock

Republican North Carolina state legislators have proposed allowing an official state religion in a measure that would declare the state exempt from the Constitution and court rulings.

The bill, filed Monday by two GOP lawmakers from Rowan County and backed by nine other Republicans, says each state "is sovereign" and courts cannot block a state "from making laws respecting an establishment of religion." The legislation was filed in response to a lawsuit to stop county commissioners in Rowan County from opening meetings with a Christian prayer, wral.com reported.

The bill reads:

SECTION 1. The North Carolina General Assembly asserts that the Constitution of the United States of America does not prohibit states or their subsidiaries from making laws respecting an establishment of religion.

SECTION 2. The North Carolina General Assembly does not recognize federal court rulings which prohibit and otherwise regulate the State of North Carolina, its public schools, or any political subdivisions of the State from making laws respecting an establishment of religion.
​

The North Carolina state constitution disqualifies those who do not believe in God from public office. The provision has been unenforcible since the 1961 Supreme Court decision in Torcaso v. Watkins, which prohibited such bans.

More: North Carolina May Declare Official State Religion Under New Bill

Hi Hazlnut. Pretty impressive pic... it would be even more impressive if you had not included a date of 1835. What really should have given you a clue is that facism, as a political philosophy did not emerge until the 1920's with Italy's Mussolini. Then you would have done a quick google of Sinclair Lewis and discovered that he was not born until 1885 and died in 1951.

 

[hortysir]

Is that any more outlandish than thinking you get out of a 16 trillion dollar hole by spending even more and going deeper in debt?

No trolling, please.

Says the Troll-master

 

[nitroz]

 

[Harry Dresden]

More evidence that North Carolina is no better than some backwater third world country.

with just nicer things.....

Not from what I've seen.

you must be looking at a different N.Carolina then.....or because of this article you are not going to be truthful about the place.....i bet if they were the most gay friendly State in the Union.....you would not have said what you said.....

 

[Lakhota]

North Carolina House Speaker Kills Bill To Create State Religion

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

The North Carolina bill seeks to play the First Amendment both ways. It says that the state is exempted from the establishment clause under the First Amendment, which establishes the "separation of church and state." The clause reads that "Congress shall make no law respecting an Establishment of Religion." But the North Carolina bill asserts that prohibition does not apply "to states, municipalities, or schools," and that North Carolina could establish a state religion. The bill then goes further, portraying this reasoning as a protection of the freedom of religion, including the state lawmakers' right to exercise their own religious beliefs.

In fact, in a series of cases stretching back nearly a century, the Supreme Court has ruled that the First Amendment does cover state governments. Judicial precedent has held that any such proposals on the establishment of religion must have secular, legislative purpose; cannot inhibit or advance religion; and cannot be "an excessive government entanglement with religion."

An explanation on why Tillis decided to kill the measure was not posted and a Tillis spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

Likely due to embarrassment.