“UNCONSTITUTIONAL!” Utah Putting 10 COMMANDMENTS Outside All Schools?
There's a proposal in the Utah Legislator written by Representative Mike Petersen (R-North Logan) that would make all schools display the Ten Commandments on school property.
The proposal is HB269 and it's of course a lightning rod for contention.
Per the Salt Lake Tribune, the CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State had this to say about it: (full article)
“Displaying an inherently religious message like the Ten Commandments in public schools is divisive and tells students their public school — a government institution — favors certain religions over others and over nonreligion,” Laser wrote in an email to The Salt Lake Tribune. “In America, every child must feel equally welcome in their own classroom, regardless of their or their family’s religious beliefs.”
Peterson is obviously gonna have an uphill battle getting this proposal passed.
According to Article 1 section 4 of the state constitution:
"The rights of conscience shall never be infringed. The State shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office of public trust or for any vote at any election; nor shall any person be incompetent as a witness or juror on account of religious belief or the absence thereof. There shall be no union of Church and State, nor shall any church dominate the State or interfere with its functions. No public money or property shall be appropriated for or applied to any religious worship, exercise or instruction, or for the support of any ecclesiastical establishment."
We'll see how hard Peterson fights for this. I appreciate where he's coming from, he sees the country going to hell and wants to do something about, but I think this move is going to be impossible.
What do you think?
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