Historical markers like this one in front of Mother of God Church in Covington represent Kentucky’s respect for our religious heritage. According to American Atheists, who apparently have nothing better to do with their time, requiring a state worker to install a sign like this one is “persecution.”
AlterNet has an interesting theory, that atheists in Kentucky are being “persecuted.”
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.”
AlterNet characterizes this as “A Year in Jail for Not Believing in God? How Kentucky is Persecuting Atheists.”
“Persecute” means “to pursue with harassing or oppressive treatment, especially because of religion, race, or beliefs; harass persistently.” Why does the hanging of a plaque that acknowledges the sovereignty of God “persecute” atheists? Here is what one of the ostensibly “persecuted” atheists has to say about it, via Fox News.
“I’m not aware of any other state or commonwealth that is attempting to dump their clear responsibility for protecting their citizens onto God or any other mythological creature,” Buckner said.
State Rep. David Floyd, R-Bardstown, said the preamble to the Kentucky constitution references a people “grateful to almighty God,” so he said he sees no constitutional violation in enlisting God in the state’s homeland security efforts.
“God help us if we don’t,” he said.
Will the federal courts rule that Kentucky’s Constitution is unconstitutional, at least by attrition? Stay tuned.
