|
The bill would violate both the U.S. Constitution and
Tennessee's state constitution, Tennessee Attorney General
Herbert Slatery III said.
"I am quite confident that the Bible's distinguished place in
history will not be diminished in the absence of a state's
endorsement," Slatery said in a statement.
He said Tennessee's constitution states that "no preference
shall ever be given, by law, to any religious establishment or
mode of worship."
Governor Bill Haslam, a Republican, also has opposed the
measure, which was debated on the floor of the state House of
Representatives on Tuesday. No vote was taken, but it could come
up for a vote on Wednesday.
"The governor doesn't think it's very respectful of what the
Bible is," said Haslam's spokesman, Dave Smith.
The bill has also drawn criticism from religious leaders and
others who say it violates the separation of church and state
under the U.S. Constitution and Tennessee's constitution.
Tennessee has a number of official state symbols including an
official amphibian, the Tennessee cave salamander; an official
tree, the tulip poplar; an official dance, the square dance; and
several official state songs including "Rocky Top" (the
University of Tennessee fight song) and "Tennessee Waltz."
(Reporting by Tim Ghianni; Editing by David Bailey and Mohammad
Zargham)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
|
