Want to hold public office in N.C.? Atheists need not apply

[HELLRAISER]

North Carolina's constitution is clear: politicians who deny the existence of God are barred from holding office.

Opponents of Cecil Bothwell are seizing on that law to argue he should not be seated as a City Council member today, even though federal courts have ruled religious tests for public office are unlawful under the U.S. Constitution.

http://www.citizen-times.com/articl...s-of-Cecil-Bothwell-cite-N.C.-bar-to-atheists

 

[themrose]

Regardless of his religious stance they don't even have the right to take this to court. it's very open and shut. They look at the constitution, declare N.C. to have a claus that goes AGAINST that, and swear him into office. beyond that, they can take their "religion test" or whatever the hell they have to gauge his beliefs, and shove it up their asses

 

[Jack Davenport]

This will be litigated. I am sure there are antiquated laws in your state that somebody could use to challenge something as well.

 

[raychik]

That goes against the united states constitution. We are just a few steps away from being as radical as that other nation.

 

[Jack Davenport]

Regardless of his religious stance they don't even have the right to take this to court. it's very open and shut. They look at the constitution, declare N.C. to have a claus that goes AGAINST that, and swear him into office. beyond that, they can take their "religion test" or whatever the hell they have to gauge his beliefs, and shove it up their asses

It's very obvious that you are clueless when it comes to the Constitution. It is the courts that decide constitutionality not to mention at this point it still remains a state's issue.

 

[raychik]

It's very obvious that you are clueless when it comes to the Constitution. It is the courts that decide constitutionality not to mention at this point it still remains a state's issue.

I know your statement wasn't directed towards me but here is an excerpt taken straight from Article VI of the United States Constitution:

"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."

 

[Jack Davenport]

I do not agree with the NC Constitution in this instance. But let me clarify, for something to be deemed unconstitutional and deemed as such, it has to be decided in the courts. This one will end up in the SCOTUS and the NC Constitution will be found in violation of the US Constitution.

 

[raychik]

I do not agree with the NC Constitution in this instance. But let me clarify, for something to be deemed unconstitutional and deemed as such, it has to be decided in the courts. This one will end up in the SCOTUS and the NC Constitution will be found in violation of the US Constitution.

Of course it has to be tried in court but it's strange that it was even allowed there in the first place. Regardless of their superstition of choice, the founding fathers went out of their way to separate church from state.

 

[Friday on my mind]

It's very obvious that you are clueless when it comes to the Constitution. It is the courts that decide constitutionality not to mention at this point it still remains a state's issue.

State constitutions must be in compliance with the federal constitution.If NC tries to enforce such a law it will be challenged and the US supreme court will undoubtly declare the provision in their constitution in violation.

These kind of laws regarding atheists used to be fairly common especially in the bible belt.Bad enough you have people who think you can use lack of belief as a winning campaign issue,a law requiring you to belong or believe in a cults nonsense is really sad.And thats what religions are,cults ,no different then newer cults.I was just watching a PBS show about the development of the telescope and what the catholic church did to Galileo when he after using a telescope detemined the copernican theory the earth was not the center of the solar system but the sun was correct.He was forced to retract his statements as hereasey and spent the remanider of his life under house arrest by the church.Dangerous narrow minded shit those cults lol.

 

[Jack Davenport]

First of all it is not NC enforcing the law. It is political opponents that are issuing this challenge. I will take a look at the general assembly record but now that this is in the news again I am willing to bet that this issue has been recently brought to the floor or will be very soon. Move along, nothing to see here.

 

[Dexter Brown]

"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, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwith-standing. "

Federal law supersedes State law.

There is a lot of old stupid laws in the US that just aren't (usually) pushed, like it's illegal to spit on the sidewalk in Boston

 

[themrose]

Isn't even CHALLENGING a man based on his religious beliefs unconstitutional? If a man chooses not to believe in a god, or any higher power at all, it is not grounds for him to be told that he is unfit to serve. I say it's nothing but a political ploy to keep him out of office and has nothing to do with his beliefs at all. Which is even worse. Using religion as a political tool just like they've been doing for thousands of years

 

[Jack Davenport]

There is a lot of redundancy on this thread. The US Constitution is clear. But the issue will be decided by a federal judge and ultimately if the challenging party decides to press it, in the high courts.

 

[Facial_King]

Let's all remember though - in America, the Conventional Wisdom is that Christians and Christianity are "under attack"!!!

To say or imply anything else is to be politically incorrect!

 

[Friday on my mind]

There is a lot of redundancy on this thread. The US Constitution is clear. But the issue will be decided by a federal judge and ultimately if the challenging party decides to press it, in the high courts.

Yes the constitution is clear but the problem is that it's been interpreted many times in the past to allow clearly unconstituitonal laws and actions.Otherwise we would never have had prayer in public schools up till 1962 and it still goes on.There was a case of a football coach in a town not far from here recently who led his team in prayer before games.The ten commandments I believe still hangs in a public school in WV and there are lots of other examples like religious displays on public property at Xmas time as well as some similar things year round.Many of the majority christian population care not about the constitution or other peoples rights and wish to force their belief system on the rest of society.

 

[Jack Davenport]

Yes the constitution is clear but the problem is that it's been interpreted many times in the past to allow clearly unconstituitonal laws and actions.Otherwise we would never have had prayer in public schools up till 1962 and it still goes on.There was a case of a football coach in a town not far from here recently who led his team in prayer before games.The ten commandments I believe still hangs in a public school in WV and there are lots of other examples like religious displays on public property at Xmas time as well as some similar things year round.Many of the majority christian population care not about the constitution or other peoples rights and wish to force their beleive system on the rest of society.

this is why liberals are so angry. If the high courts hand down a decision they disagree with even if the decision is found to be Constitutional. But if they agree with the decision it is all Peace Love and Donny Osmond.

 

[Philbert]

First of all it is not NC enforcing the law. It is political opponents that are issuing this challenge. I will take a look at the general assembly record but now that this is in the news again I am willing to bet that this issue has been recently brought to the floor or will be very soon. Move along, nothing to see here.

Exactly...UberLibs and silly people like to stir up a dustcloud and yell "tornado!".
It ain't so, and you only fool the dumbest of your brethern on the silly side...wiser heads would shut down any legal challenge to the candidate taking office, to avoid the embarrassment and expense of litigation. Rep. Greyson types are like attack dogs...use'em but keep ahold of the leash.
For the lamest out there...state law does not supercede Fed law...ask California how that Legal Marijuana Law went over. Feds still busted any Legal Reefer shop they wanted. Without going to the Supreme Court.

 

[Philbert]

Yes the constitution is clear but the problem is that it's been interpreted many times in the past to allow clearly unconstituitonal laws and actions.Otherwise we would never have had prayer in public schools up till 1962 and it still goes on.There was a case of a football coach in a town not far from here recently who led his team in prayer before games.The ten commandments I believe still hangs in a public school in WV and there are lots of other examples like religious displays on public property at Xmas time as well as some similar things year round.Many of the majority christian population care not about the constitution or other peoples rights and wish to force their belief system on the rest of society.

Awww...you really seem to be suffering from the inclusion of all these evil things in the public arena. Evil Christchild! Evil Ten Commandments! Bad Santa! :rofl:

Likewise, many in the current Democratic/Liberal Government do not care about the constitution or other peoples rights and wish to force their belief system on the rest of society. Aren't you upset about that?:eek:

 

[Baill Inneraora]

Right wing wackos’ paranoia knows no bounds.

 

[Philbert]

Right wing wackos’ paranoia knows no bounds.

Is there a subject to your vague statement, or just a Left Wing wacko venting?