The Official State Religion of North Carolina

JimmyV

I love the Carolinas but this is craziness:

http://www.salon.com/2013/04/03/north_c ... _religion/

Republican legislators in North Carolina want to declare an official state religion as a way of nullifying court rulings that prohibit prayer by public entities.

From the Huffington Post:

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 Constitution of the United States does not grant the federal government and does not grant the federal courts the power to determine what is or is not constitutional; therefore, by virtue of the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the power to determine constitutionality and the proper interpretation and proper application of the Constitution is reserved to the states and to the people,” says the bill. “Each state in the union is sovereign and may independently determine how that state may make laws respecting an establishment of religion.”

mikepegg44

JimmyV wrote:

I love the Carolinas but this is craziness:

http://www.salon.com/2013/04/03/north_c ... _religion/

Republican legislators in North Carolina want to declare an official state religion as a way of nullifying court rulings that prohibit prayer by public entities.

From the Huffington Post:

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 Constitution of the United States does not grant the federal government and does not grant the federal courts the power to determine what is or is not constitutional; therefore, by virtue of the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the power to determine constitutionality and the proper interpretation and proper application of the Constitution is reserved to the states and to the people,” says the bill. “Each state in the union is sovereign and may independently determine how that state may make laws respecting an establishment of religion.”

was this an april fool's joke?

that is an amazingly weird and wrong interpretation of the US constitution. Maybe they got it mixed up with the one they wrote in their basement. Not a lawyer, but wouldn't the supremacy clause and the 1st amendment seem to get rid of this ridiculously obvious attempt at publicity.

JimmyV

Looks like it is a real thing and yes it is amazingly weird.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04 ... igion?lite

Jason P

I wonder what the Vegas line is for Islam getting chosen?

Oh well, I don't like the a-holes who sue the bejesus out of everyone and everywhere just cause a prayer is said. They can get a taste of their own medicine.

Prince Of Dorkness

OK... so you don't want to be held by the constitution or federal laws?

OK.

Well... then you're now a sovereign nation.

Please return all that welfare money and you better build a big wall... our army will kick your asses.

Oh and good luck at Hurricane Season. No longer our problem. Maybe Quincy Jones will defile "We Are The World" for you to raise some money.

know1

JimmyV wrote:

I love the Carolinas but this is craziness:

http://www.salon.com/2013/04/03/north_c ... _religion/

Republican legislators in North Carolina want to declare an official state religion as a way of nullifying court rulings that prohibit prayer by public entities.

From the Huffington Post:

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 Constitution of the United States does not grant the federal government and does not grant the federal courts the power to determine what is or is not constitutional; therefore, by virtue of the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the power to determine constitutionality and the proper interpretation and proper application of the Constitution is reserved to the states and to the people,” says the bill. “Each state in the union is sovereign and may independently determine how that state may make laws respecting an establishment of religion.”

I think the so-called "separation of church and state" mandate is a myth, but even I would have to say that I believe that state law would go against the constitution from the standpoint of establishing an official religion.

Last-12-Exit

As a resident of South Carolina, I worry that this stupidity will travel south to our crazy governers. Not that it doesn't already exist in Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, and Lindsey Graham.

riotgrl

Last-12-Exit wrote:

As a resident of South Carolina, I worry that this stupidity will travel south to our crazy governers. Not that it doesn't already exist in Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, and Lindsey Graham.

And as a resident of Kentucky, I worry that it will definitely travel here. You know, since we have that ark and creation "museum" :fp:

riotgrl

know1 wrote:

JimmyV wrote:

I love the Carolinas but this is craziness:

http://www.salon.com/2013/04/03/north_c ... _religion/

Republican legislators in North Carolina want to declare an official state religion as a way of nullifying court rulings that prohibit prayer by public entities.

From the Huffington Post:

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 Constitution of the United States does not grant the federal government and does not grant the federal courts the power to determine what is or is not constitutional; therefore, by virtue of the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the power to determine constitutionality and the proper interpretation and proper application of the Constitution is reserved to the states and to the people,” says the bill. “Each state in the union is sovereign and may independently determine how that state may make laws respecting an establishment of religion.”

I think the so-called "separation of church and state" mandate is a myth, but even I would have to say that I believe that state law would go against the constitution from the standpoint of establishing an official religion.

Are you saying that North Carolina has every right to simply ignore the Constitution in regards to an establishment of religion? The Constitution is the supreme law of the land and Thomas Jefferson, himself, made it plain in many of his writings that the intent of the first amendment was to provide for a separation of church and state. There have been multiple Supreme Court cases upholding this ideal. I find it completely unlikely that NC will be able to do that once someone with a lick of common sense challenges it in court.

know1

riotgrl wrote:

Are you saying that North Carolina has every right to simply ignore the Constitution in regards to an establishment of religion? The Constitution is the supreme law of the land and Thomas Jefferson, himself, made it plain in many of his writings that the intent of the first amendment was to provide for a separation of church and state. There have been multiple Supreme Court cases upholding this ideal. I find it completely unlikely that NC will be able to do that once someone with a lick of common sense challenges it in court.

Nope. I was saying the opposite.

I said that I do not believe that the Constitution truly calls for a separation of church and state, but rather that it prevents the establishment of a national religion.

I would suspect that North Carolina's law would possibly be in violation of that.

PJ_Soul

Seems to go against everything that America is supposed to stand for, no?

Last-12-Exit

I hope they pick voodoo

Jason P

PJ_Soul wrote:

Seems to go against everything that America is supposed to stand for, no?

To make such a law, yes.

But sueing because some group says a quick pray is B.S. Minority is ruling the majority.

(much like how you poor canucks that can't enjoy Albino Rhino beer) :geek:

Jason P

Last-12-Exit wrote:

I hope they pick voodoo

Church of the Jedi (fingers crossed)

PJ_Soul

Jason P wrote:

PJ_Soul wrote:

Seems to go against everything that America is supposed to stand for, no?

To make such a law, yes.

But sueing because some group says a quick pray is B.S. Minority is ruling the majority.

(much like how you poor canucks that can't enjoy Albino Rhino beer) :geek:

:fp: Well, for the record, they still have the beer. They just changed the name.
I don't think that being inclusive = minority ruling majority (speaking in general terms, not to this particular subject). I also think that prayer has NO place in public anything. There should zero connection between church and state. I'm with the French on this issue. America needs to work that shit out.

riotgrl

know1 wrote:

riotgrl wrote:

Are you saying that North Carolina has every right to simply ignore the Constitution in regards to an establishment of religion? The Constitution is the supreme law of the land and Thomas Jefferson, himself, made it plain in many of his writings that the intent of the first amendment was to provide for a separation of church and state. There have been multiple Supreme Court cases upholding this ideal. I find it completely unlikely that NC will be able to do that once someone with a lick of common sense challenges it in court.

Nope. I was saying the opposite.

I said that I do not believe that the Constitution truly calls for a separation of church and state, but rather that it prevents the establishment of a national religion.

I would suspect that North Carolina's law would possibly be in violation of that.

Gotcha!