February 21, 201412 yr This is over a year old but I stumbled across it researching our license plate indoctrination: November 25, 2012 A Kentucky law requires residents and government officials to affirm the existence of God, or risk a penalty of up to 12 months in prison for failure to comply. The Kentucky law requires that plaques celebrating the power of the Almighty God be installed outside the state Homeland Security building. The text of the inscription on the plaques begins with the assertion, “The safety and security of the Commonwealth cannot be achieved apart from reliance upon Almighty God.” The law is part of a Kentucky state homeland security bill that passed in 2008. Edwin Kagin, legal director of American Atheists, said: "This is one of the most egregiously and breathtakingly unconstitutional actions by a state legislature that I've ever seen." AlterNet reports that earlier this month American Atheists submitted a petition to the U.S. Supreme Court to review the law. Truthdig reports that although the law clearly violates the First Amendment’s separation of church and state, the Kentucky state Supreme Court has refused to review its constitutionality. The Kentucky law is a national embarrassment, and an insult to every clear thinking American. It is an affront to reason, and an assault on the U.S. Constitution. The law is a strong indication that the religious right represents a clear and present danger to the nation, and if given the chance, Christian fundamentalists would transform America into an ugly theocracy, a place where religious ignorance and superstition would reign supreme. For more political news, information and humor see Left Coast Lucy on Facebook. For more news, information and humor relevant to atheists, freethinkers, and secular humanists, see Progressive Secular Humanist Examiner on Facebook. On Twitter follow Progressive Examiner. Kentucky: Atheists face 12 months in prison for disbelief - National Humanist | Examiner.com
February 21, 201412 yr Author Hopefully there is more on this but consider: On January 11, 2013, the Supreme Court of the United States sent a letter to Kentucky Attorney General Conway requesting that Kentucky file a response to American Atheists' petition for a writ of certiorari. On February 12, Attorney General Conway filed the State's response to American Atheists. On March 18, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it had declined to hear this case. President David Silverman said, "We disagree with the court's decision. Kentucky is putting a criminal penalty on a refusal to affirm to a god, and we maintain our stance that this law is unconstitutional. We are proud that we were able to raise awareness about this and we're sorry the Supreme Court has decided to sidestep the issue. The people of Kentucky deserve better." Kentucky Homeland Security Case | American Atheists
February 21, 201412 yr The problem is it does not violate the first amendment of seperation of church and state and once again shows the ignorance of the meaning by many. No where in the law does it state residents have to believe in God. It states this, The Kentucky law requires that plaques celebrating the power of the Almighty God be installed outside the state Homeland Security building. The text of the inscription on the plaques begins with the assertion, “The safety and security of the Commonwealth cannot be achieved apart from reliance upon Almighty God.” No where does it say that residents HAVE to believe in God.
February 21, 201412 yr Author The problem is it does not violate the first amendment of seperation of church and state and once again shows the ignorance of the meaning by many. It takes all kinds of people to make the world go around.
February 21, 201412 yr It takes all kinds of people to make the world go around. Haha, true. But do you understand whatmim saying here? Seperation of church and state means the government can not tell you what religion to be a part of. God is not a religion, wether someone believes in God or not is not the issue. No one said you are not allowed to believe there is no God.
February 21, 201412 yr Coal, cardinal, goldenrod. Those are Kentucky's state mineral, state bird and state flower. So why not a state deity?
February 21, 201412 yr Author Haha, true. But do you understand whatmim saying here? Seperation of church and state means the government can not tell you what religion to be a part of. God is not a religion, wether someone believes in God or not is not the issue. No one said you are not allowed to believe there is no God. I understand you are doing your job.
February 21, 201412 yr The problem is it does not violate the first amendment of seperation of church and state and once again shows the ignorance of the meaning by many. No where in the law does it state residents have to believe in God. It states this, The Kentucky law requires that plaques celebrating the power of the Almighty God be installed outside the state Homeland Security building. The text of the inscription on the plaques begins with the assertion, “The safety and security of the Commonwealth cannot be achieved apart from reliance upon Almighty God.” No where does it say that residents HAVE to believe in God. Is it violating the "establishment" clause? That's what most lawyers would argue.
February 21, 201412 yr Is it violating the "establishment" clause? That's what most lawyers would argue. I don't know. I would have to look into that. I was responding to the thread title and first post which leads you to believe because the guy doesn't believe in God he has to go to prison which isn't at all true.
February 21, 201412 yr The problem is it does not violate the first amendment of seperation of church and state and once again shows the ignorance of the meaning by many. No where in the law does it state residents have to believe in God. It states this, The Kentucky law requires that plaques celebrating the power of the Almighty God be installed outside the state Homeland Security building. The text of the inscription on the plaques begins with the assertion, “The safety and security of the Commonwealth cannot be achieved apart from reliance upon Almighty God.” No where does it say that residents HAVE to believe in God. The First Amendment says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." which most people understand as saying the government can't promote a religion or compel its citizens to participate in one. Using tax money or the compulsion of law to promote religious ideas certainly sounds like the government is favoring a particular religion. As Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Virginia Act for Establishing Religious Freedom "that to compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves, is sinful and tyrannical..."
February 21, 201412 yr Only 12 months? They should simply than us for our mercy and thank God they don't get flogged or the rack. We're getting too soft in this country.
February 21, 201412 yr The First Amendment says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." which most people understand as saying the government can't promote a religion or compel its citizens to participate in one. Using tax money or the compulsion of law to promote religious ideas certainly sounds like the government is favoring a particular religion. As Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Virginia Act for Establishing Religious Freedom "that to compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves, is sinful and tyrannical..." I your post you state congress as in the United States congress. You also state about religion. Again God is not. Religion
February 21, 201412 yr The next case I try will be my first so.... I don't think the use of a generic "God" without citing or attributing words to a certain religion violates the Constitution. Ohio was taken to court over their "With God, all things are possible" motto. Ohio won .
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.