Posted on 04/14/2014 1:19:15 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
The House Committee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs voted 8 to 5 to pass the legislation, entitled House Bill 503. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Thomas Carmody (R-Shreveport), argues that the purpose of the bill is not to establish an official religion in the state, but rather to reflect America's history and founding principles as outlined by the country's Founding Fathers.
"It's not to the exclusion of anyone else's sacred literature," he told the House committee, according to The Associated Press.
Carmody added later: "This is not about establishing an official religion of the state of Louisiana."
When one lawmaker asked Carmody if he was prepared to offend Louisiana's non-Christians with his bill, Carmody repeated that the purpose of the legislation was not to offend or establish a state religion.
"It's not meant to be offensive," Carmody said. "There's no requirement that they would have to follow this particular text."
Some skeptical lawmakers were concerned that the bill's original text referenced a specific version of the bible, one published by Johannes Prevel and found in the Louisiana State Museum system, to be used as the state book. Carmody then changed the text of the bill to allow the King James version of the bible to be used instead.
Those critical of the bill argued the legislation was unnecessary and would make the state more vulnerable to lawsuits. The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana has also expressed its concern regarding the legislation.
"[The official state book] ought to be one that relates to the history of Louisiana and not one that is going to discriminate against a large number of Louisianans," said Executive Director Majorie Esman, according to The Times-Picayune.
There have been other recent stories of U.S. cities and states adopting the bible as part of their identity. Back in January, Mayor Tom Hayden of Flower Mound, Texas declared 2014 the "Year of the Bible." Hayden was clear in saying his proclamation was not a law, but rather an attempt to encourage residents to live by biblically-based principles.
Pennsylvania lawmakers also voted to establish 2012 as the "Year of the Bible," causing uproar from atheist groups who then placed a billboard in the center of the state to protest the resolution.
Which version?
They shouldn’t call their parishes parishes if they want to be PC.
So despite Catholic France establishing Louisiana and it was ruled by Catholic Spain for a few decades, Catholic versions did not make the cut.
Some of these lawmakers get it. They know Who is in charge of their next breath! Without God we are NOTHING!
I am all for Christianity...but this isn’t a good idea...An official book walks right up to that establishment line, in my opinion...
The Latin Vulgate is what they need.
Uh....what?
How about a book on the history of the state?
Shut down the French quarter?
You may be right, but at least these lawmakers are taking a stand on what they believe. There was a time when the Bible was THE textbook in the school and law was patterned after the Ten Commandments (not the ten suggestions). Now look what we have. . . a society out of control and unless God performs a miracle after much repentance from the citizens of our country. . then as my grandfather use to say, “that’s all she wrote”.
Egad, the Muslims are coming, the Muslims are coming!!
The first amendment most definitely applies to state government action. They can’t tell you what to say or who to pray to...
I think an official state book that happens to be a religious text is pretty darn close if not over the line.
7 of the 13 States had Religious Establishments in one form or another at the time of the founding. Had the Constitution been considered a threat to those establishments, it would not have been adopted.
The BoR is a set of constraints upon the general government, not the States. Only with post civil war court cases do we see the eventual incorporation of all the BoB against the States (most recently Heller et al.)
However, the 1st amendment is specifically targeted “Congress shall make no law...” A State is not Congress. To broaden the reach of the amendment is to rewrite it, something that the constitution reserves to the People and Congress, not the Court.
The Supreme court has long held that the 1A applies to state government, as does the second. Next time a state government tries to ban the sale of firearms, let me know your thoughts on that.
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