I’m glad that this issue has finally been elevated to the level of evening political news with Rachel Maddow. North Carolina is one of a handful of other states with active constitutional prohibitions that prohibit atheists from holding public office. This blatant violation of the U.S. Constitution (Article 6 and the First Amendment)1 by creating a religious test for public office has not been the focus of the news, probably because prior holders of public office in those states either lie about their beliefs (pandering to the heavy religious pressure of the Bible Belt) or are religious themselves. However, recently, critics of a new Asheville city council member Cecil Bothwell have threatened to try to remove him from office because he’s an atheist.
Here’s Maddow’s inquiry and discussion with ACLU North Carolina Legal Director Katherine Parker:
- Article 6 prohibits religious tests for public office and the First Amendment prohibits establishment (and it can be argued that by requiring state officials to be of a particular religion, the state is establishing a religious preference [<]
