A hearing is set for June 1st in the case of American Atheists et al v. The State of Kentucky. What’s it all about? In 2006 the legislature passed a Homeland Security bill which contained the following statement (virtually in the first sentence): “The executive director [of the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security] shall…publicize the findings of the General Assembly stressing the dependence on Almighty God as being vital to the security of the Commonwealth.”
As Keith Olbermann would say, “WTF?” The Commonwealth is defending the statute, but it’s impossible to see it standing up in court. I guess this one will have to grind its way through the system until it’s thrown out–but not before costing Kentucky taxpayers thousands (if not millions) of dollars.
If that’s all it says it would have passed muster. Stupid, but might legally it would fall into the “in God we trust” on money category. The director can fulfill his duty under the statue with a footnote in a report. But No. We have to have a plaque with the text
The safety and security of the Commonwealth cannot be achieved apart from
reliance upon Almighty God as set forth in the public speeches and proclamations
of American Presidents, including Abraham Lincoln’s historic March 30, 1863,
Presidential Proclamation urging Americans to pray and fast during one of the most
dangerous hours in American history, and the text of President John F. Kennedy’s
November 22, 1963, national security speech which concluded: “For as was written
long ago: ‘Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.’ ”
Morons.
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