As widely reported in the blogosphere, Missouri wishes to make Christianity the official state religion.
House Concurrent Resolution 13 has is pending in the state legislature…
The resolution would recognize “a Christian god,??? and it would not protect minority religions, but “protect the majority’s right to express their religious beliefs.
I have seen some Wiccans shrug at this. They point out this is a non-binding resolution, not a law. They point out that Wicca has always been hidden, so what’s the big?
The obvious intent here is to make an inroad towards establishment. They are trying to further the tiresome and self-serving meme that Chrisitianity is “oppressed” in the U.S. They are doing this to undermine the idea that it is minority religion and non-religion that requires protection. The right is all about talking points. It’s all about selling a story. Truthiness. Missouri is trying to sell the story that Christianity is oppressed, must be protected, and can be made a state religion. That they skirt the letter of the law to do so is beside the point.
And as to the “hidden Wicca” idea? Hide to be discreet and private. Hide to work the Witches Pyramid. Hide to preserve the Mysteries. But when they come to drag us out of our homes, to take our jobs, our children, our lives?
Don’t hide. Fight.
Clearly, this is a violation of the first amendment. It would have to be declared unconstitutional. Bunch of hogwash.
Notice that all these horrific theocratic and anti-female state laws come after the appointments of Roberts and Alito. These wingnuts are drunk with power, they think they own the Court now.
Just for clarity, here’s the actual text of the resolution….
Whereas, our forefathers of this great nation of the United States recognized a Christian God and used the principles afforded to us by Him as the founding principles of our nation; and
Whereas, as citizens of this great nation, we the majority also wish to exercise our constitutional right to acknowledge our Creator and give thanks for the many gifts provided by Him; and
Whereas, as elected officials we should protect the majority’s right to express their religious beliefs while showing respect for those who object; and
Whereas, we wish to continue the wisdom imparted in the Constitution of the United States of America by the founding fathers; and
Whereas, we as elected officials recognize that a Greater Power exists above and beyond the institutions of mankind:
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-third General Assembly, Second Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, that we stand with the majority of our constituents and exercise the common sense that voluntary prayer in public schools and religious displays on public property are not a coalition of church and state, but rather the justified recognition of the positive role that Christianity has played in this great nation of ours, the United States of America.
Interestingly enough, HR13 for 2002 (I think) was also a resolution to allow voluntary prayer in public schools.
England knows it’s a Christian state, notwithstanding the crown prince’s occasional subversive comments about it: the head of state is the head of the established church too.
Every meeting of the local council here starts with a procession of mace-bearer and man in chains (also known as the mayor) followed by a chance for a priest to give his views on the issues of the day while everyone stands and concentrates (also known as a prayer). Looking around from the public gallery, I’ve yet to spot any councillors not taking part in this supposedly voluntary action, even though it seems improbable from official statistics that they all share the same faith.
“religious displays on public property” – they’d like a Subgenius devival in the House public gallery, perhaps?