The Constitution, that is. When people and states blatantly violate it, it can be very interesting, in fact! Case in point, Article VI, paragraph 3, which states that:
"The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members
of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial
Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be
bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."
Sounds good, doesn't it? Except for these Articles, found in different *state Constitutions :
Arkansas, Article 19, Section 1:
No
person who denies the being of a God shall hold any office in the civil
departments of this State, nor be competent to testify as a witness in
any Court.
Maryland, Article 37:
That
no religious test ought ever to be required as a qualification for any
office of profit or trust in this State, other than a declaration of
belief in the existence of God; nor shall the Legislature prescribe any
other oath of office than the oath prescribed by this Constitution.
Mississippi, Article 14, Section 265:
No person who denies the existence of a Supreme Being shall hold any office in this state.
North Carolina, Article 6, Section 8
The following persons shall be disqualified for office: Any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God.
South Carolina, Article 17, Section 4:
No person who denies the existence of a Supreme Being shall hold any office under this Constitution.
Tennessee, Article 9, Section 2:
No
person who denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards and
punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this
state.
Texas, Article 1, Section 4:
No
religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office,
or public trust, in this State; nor shall any one be excluded from
holding office on account of his religious sentiments, provided he
acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being.
Anyone have any thoughts on all this? And please, feel free to discuss anything that interests you more, including what we were discussing in the old post. :-)
Thursday, December 13, 2012
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