NM State Workers get paid time off to honor pope

[AnnInLa]

State workers get paid time off on day to honor pope
(2 comments; last comment posted Today 06:47 am) print | email this story


Ben Neary | The New Mexican
April 7, 2005

Gov. Bill Richardson has proclaimed Friday a day of remembrance for Pope John Paul II and has given state employees half a day off with pay "to observe this day in an appropriate way of their choosing."

Some critics say Richardson's order violates the principle of separation of church and state.

Billy Sparks, Richardson spokesman, said Wednesday that the governor, a Catholic, sees no separation issue in giving state workers time off with pay to mark the pope's funeral.

In his proclamation issued Wednesday, Richardson emphasized the pope, who died last week, was an important statesman in addition to being a religious leader. More at:

http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/12332.html

[wakeme2008]

1. All I can say, is the two comment writers are

hitting their heads thinking... Why did a Dem governor do this and not one of our Repug governors......