Foolish liberals! The Bill of Rights guarantees you Freedom OF Religion, not Freedom FROM Religion!

[Bucky]

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/11/21/in-kentucky-atheism-is-persecuted-by-law/

[font size="3"]In Kentucky, Atheism Is Persecuted By Law[/font]

Your first thought when hearing of this is that it is one of those odd and antiquated laws that is the subject of comical books, articles and websites dedicated to making fun of silly things that are illegal but that nobody listens to. It isn’t. In fact, this law isn’t even old — it was passed in 2006. The law centers on Homeland Security and states that “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.’”

Another part of the law demands the public display of plaques glorifying the religion, as reported by AlterNet:

[font face="times new roman" size="3"]The law requires that plaques celebrating the power of the Almighty God be installed outside the state Homeland Security building–and carries a criminal penalty of up to 12 months in jail if one fails to comply. The plaque’s inscription begins with the assertion, “The safety and security of the Commonwealth cannot be achieved apart from reliance upon Almighty God.”[/font]

This amounts to a governmental endorsement of a particular religion which is, quite obviously, unconstitutional. That is why the American Atheist Association has been attacking the law since the inception in 2006. They have petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review it as well as winning a victory in a Circuit Court ruling that the law was unconstitutional before having that ruling overturned by the Court of Appeals. The dissenting opinion on the Court of Appeals decision was written by Judge Ann O’Malley Shake, and an excerpt reads as follows:

[font face="times new roman" size="3"]Kentucky’s law is a legislative finding, avowed as factual, that the Commonwealth is not safe absent reliance on Almighty God. Further, (the law) places a duty upon the executive director to publicize the assertion while stressing to the public that dependence upon Almighty God is vital, or necessary, in assuring the safety of the commonwealth[/font]

...

In an interesting sidenote to this story... Florida, you're off the hook for having the worst politics in the country. Kentucky in one swift maneuver just jumped over Texas, Ohio, Nevada, and even the dadburned Strom Thurmond Belt to become the absolute terriblest place to be an American citizen. Don't get comfy, Kaintucks. I'm sure our healthcare hating wingnut governors will find a way to catch up to you in no time.

[elleng]

1. The First Amendment says:

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.

REPEAT: no law respecting an establishment of religion

[Warpy]

4. Exactly, and that is freedom from any state sanctioned religion

The Kentucky law is obviously unconstitutional but their own courts won't touch it.

[elleng]

7. Right, has to be taken up and out.

[jody]

2. Kudos for saying our Constitution "guarantees" rights rather than the common ignorant or stupid

assertion that it "gives" rights.

[TheKentuckian]

3. Not true. The law is really stupid and unconstitutional but it doesn't do what you claim

I'm a Christian who believes in separation of church and state, vehemently.

I would refuse to place the plaques and would be subject to the same penalties.

[patrice]

5. What if my religion is that the rest of them are blasphemous and evangelism is satanic? nt

[spanone]

6. the american taliban is amongst us