[muawiyah]

It's the law itself (see: http://www.schev.edu/policy/leg_display.asp?bill=HB1673 ) that's directing the Governor to appoint a Moslem. It says, in fact that among the representatives to be appointed by the Governor there must be "a representative of a religious organization with a program for immigrants"

The First Amendment prohibits the Congress (and by extension through the 14th Amendment, the Virginia Legislature) from passing a law respecting an establishmnt of religion.

Here, in fact, the law is demanding that the represenative be from a "religious organization" and also one with a "program for immigrants", that is, a religion with a specific establishment, that is a "program".

I think this law is manifestly UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

Where's the ACLU, and why isn't this puke of a Governor appointing a Sa'ami Noaide to this position?

[untenured]

The First Amendment prohibits the Congress (and by extension through the 14th Amendment, the Virginia Legislature) from passing a law respecting an establishmnt of religion.

Actually, you could do better than that. Article VI requires that "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States." This seldom comes up in litigation, but this seems like an obvious case. Someone really should challenge this.