Republicans Propose Declaring Idaho a 'Christian State'

[InTheLight]

(Reuters) - Members of a county Republican Party in Idaho are to take up a measure on Tuesday evening that would declare the state a Christian one to bolster what the proposal calls the "Judeo-Christian bedrock of the founding of the United States."

The resolution to be voted on by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee is non-binding, meaning it does not have the effect of laws or rules.

The proposal seeks that Idaho be "formally and specifically declared a Christian state," guided by a Judeo-Christian faith reflected in the U.S. Declaration of Independence where all authority and power is attributed to God, the resolution reads.

The measure argues that the Christian faith is under "strident attack" in the United States, and cites as evidence the absence of Christian traditions and symbols in public institutions such as schools.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/24/us-usa-idaho-christian-idUSKBN0LS2Q020150224

(How persecuted are you when you can hold public meetings and 'vote' that your religion be the official religion of the state?)

 

[Bro. Curtis]

There are a lot of whack-job churches in those Idaho mountain enclaves. Wonder which brand of Christianity they will adapt ?


My honkey-tonk band does some gigs in Idaho. You can still smoke in the hotel bars and beer joints there. I don't smoke, myself, but I will chew on the end of a cigar once in a while. Some folks don't like the smell of tobacco smoke, but to me, it smells like Idaho is still a free state.

 

[Salty]

Could be they want it declared a Christian State before it is declared a Muslim State.

 

[InTheLight]

Could be they want it declared a Christian State before it is declared a Muslim State.

Yeah....the first amendment would pose a teensy-weensy problem.

 

[blessedwife318]

Yeah....the first amendment would pose a teensy-weensy problem.

Actually it would not. The First amendment is about what Congress can or cannot do. It says nothing about what States can or cannot do.

Now if you wanted to say the 14th amendments would be a problem that I would agree with.

 

[Salty]

Yeah....the first amendment would pose a teensy-weensy problem.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. -

The First Amendment prohibits CONGRESS from establishing a religion.

Now we will refer to the 10th Amendment:
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

 

[Doubting Thomas]

Sounds good to me--maybe we can do the same down here in Georgia. :thumbs:

 

[Zaac]

(Reuters) - Members of a county Republican Party in Idaho are to take up a measure on Tuesday evening that would declare the state a Christian one to bolster what the proposal calls the "Judeo-Christian bedrock of the founding of the United States."

The resolution to be voted on by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee is non-binding, meaning it does not have the effect of laws or rules.

The proposal seeks that Idaho be "formally and specifically declared a Christian state," guided by a Judeo-Christian faith reflected in the U.S. Declaration of Independence where all authority and power is attributed to God, the resolution reads.

The measure argues that the Christian faith is under "strident attack" in the United States, and cites as evidence the absence of Christian traditions and symbols in public institutions such as schools.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/24/us-usa-idaho-christian-idUSKBN0LS2Q020150224

(How persecuted are you when you can hold public meetings and 'vote' that your religion be the official religion of the state?)

Bad, bad idea.

I don't want any state that sanctions the type of unGodliness that most state governments do to become the national and international "picture" of what is Christian.

Not to mention that when you say Christian state, you make it sound like all other religions don't have a place there.

Also, it would seem a bit strange that a national religion can't be formed but that states and smaller jurisdictions could turn around and quasi- form state and local "official" religions. Just a bad idea.

Not to mention the Supreme Court has already said that the Establishment Clause is ALSO BINDING to the states.

Everson vs. Board of Education

http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=330&invol=1

 

[InTheLight]

Actually it would not. The First amendment is about what Congress can or cannot do. It says nothing about what States can or cannot do.

Now if you wanted to say the 14th amendments would be a problem that I would agree with.

The First Amendment prohibits CONGRESS from establishing a religion.

Now we will refer to the 10th Amendment:
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

You both fail your Constitutional law exam.

Federal law trumps state law.

The US Constitution, Article VI, Clause II (the Supremacy Clause)

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/supremacy_clause

 

[Rolfe]

Republicans Propose Declaring Idaho a 'Christian State'

I bet that this was inspired by the Virgin Mary's appearance in a potato.

 

[JohnDeereFan]

Yeah....the first amendment would pose a teensy-weensy problem.

Have you ever read the state constitutions of the original thirteen colonies?