Kentucky News: Judge-Kentucky Should Not Depend On The Law Of God For Homeland Security
A state judge ruled that Kentucky is not legally dependent on God to keep its citizens safe.
Franklin County Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate ruled on August 26, 2006 Amendment to the Act, the definition of the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security that “public security said could be achieved without recourse to God” unconstitutional imposition of religion .
Lawyers of Kentucky argued that the three branches of government have recognized the role of religion in public life for over 200 years, and that their removal would be “completely secular society, completely separated from religion.”
Wingate said, as federal and Kentucky constitutions which allow reference to Almighty God built in the middle of “laws, but the law is” more ephemeral than a general reference to God. “Instead, he said, the statute” places will be forced to rely on God Almighty to protect the community.”
The fact that the judge ruled that the law of Kentucky was “outstanding among the thousands of others” and violated the First Amendment Congress, no law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion. ”
“Even if we assume that most citizens of this country, historically dependent on God to protect the election goes, it does not give the General Assembly to the right of citizens of this company,” Wingate ruled. “C ‘ is the reason that created the Creation of the element to protect the minority from the oppression of the majority.”
The claim regarding the constitutionality of the law, the American Atheists, Inc., argued that the law is an attempt to “establish religion, belief, disbelief in favor of education, test set religious, [and] citizens of Kentucky and government employees in the theistic religious beliefs.”
The Committee stated that the law will “limit civil rights, privileges or the ability of atheists and those who do not believe in God or believe in God or gods, as alleged supernatural person who supports the law is unconstitutional.
State Rep. Tom Riner, D-Louisville, and Southern Baptist minister has slipped, “the language of God Almighty” in the Bill of Homeland Security three years ago, and said Lexington Herald-Leader that was dissatisfied with the judge’s decision.
Riner, pastor of Christ the King Baptist Church in Louisville, said the law does not require Kentucky to leave God for their safety, but admitted that the government can not do without God, to protect its citizens.
“The decision will be shocked and disappointed, Thomas Jefferson, who speaks the words of a written limited to the General Assembly, this legislation” Riner.
Edwin Karin, National Legal Director American Atheists, do not agree. The blog on the band’s website, called Karin decision win for atheists.
“I think Thomas Jefferson was happy to be,” said Karin.
Judge Wingate said he did not follow the faith of the atheist group that the law was an attempt to “Christianization” of Kentucky, but he defines as “incomprehensible that Christians seek public support for their own religion, and give a secular government to describe the chance of having a real impact of the Church “.
“History of the Commonwealth” does not exclude God from the Constitution, but it will never be allowed to require the General Assembly that its citizens depend on God Almighty, “Wingate said in his decision.