Lawmakers in Tennessee voted Monday to make the Bible the state’s official book.
The state Senate voted 19-8 in favor of the bill despite arguments against it. It now goes to the governor’s desk for a final yay or nay.
Tennessee’s attorney general argued that the measure conflicts with a provison in the state’s constitution which states, “no preference shall ever be given, by law, to any religious establishment or mode of worship.”
The American Civil Liberties Union is now calling on Gov. Bill Haslam to veto the bill.
“A thinly veiled effort to promote one religion over other religions clearly violates both the United States and Tennessee Constitutions,” they said.
But Republican Sen. Steve Southerland, who sponsored the bill, said the measure recognizes the Bible for its historical and cultural contributions to the state and is not a government endorsement of relgion.
CBN News reached out to Southerland for comment, but our call was not returned.
“The very founding of our nation — the very form of government that we have today — was put forth by men of faith, based on their faith, based on what they read in Holy Scripture,” Sen. Kerry Roberts, R-Springfield, said.
Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, voted against the measure but noted that when lawmakers are sworn into office, they place their hand on a bible while making an oath to uphold the state and federal constitutions.
“I understand that it’s hard to vote against the Bible — but no one wants to do that,” he said. “We have an obligation to follow the constitution.”
CBN News also tried unsuccessfully to reach Sen. Yarbro for further comment.
Sen. Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, opposed the bill for a different reason, saying it would degrade the Holy Scriptures.
“The Bible is a book of history, but it is not a history book to be placed on the shelf,” he said.
Southerland said that an outside legal organization has offered to defend any lawsuits challenging the bill for free.
“So I ask you, what do we have to lose?” he said.
If passed, the Bible will be placed alongside other state symbols such as the official tree, flower, rock or amphibian.
Gov. Haslam opposes the measure but hasn’t said whether he’ll veto the bill.
If signed into law, Tennessee would become the first state in the nation to recognize the Holy Bible as it’s official book.
Ex: cbn.com
