The constitution of Oklahoma, like many states, has a part about church-state separation. In Oklahoma, Republicans are tying to remove that provision. Representative Jason Nelson has put forth a ballot initiative that would allow voters to vote out Article 2 Section 5 of the constitution.
No public money or property shall ever be appropriated, applied, donated, or used, directly or indirectly, for the use, benefit, or support of any sect, church, denomination, or system of religion, or for the use, benefit, or support of any priest, preacher, minister, or other religious teacher or dignitary, or sectarian institution as such.
would become
No public money or property shall ever be appropriated, applied, donated, or used, directly or indirectly, for the use, benefit, or support of any sect, church, denomination, or system of religion, or for the use, benefit, or support of any priest, preacher, minister, or other religious teacher or dignitary, or sectarian institution as such.
There is a summary at Americans United
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Pretty clear-cut rewording, no quibbles about mis-placed commas and the lie.
Oh balls. I live in Oklahoma and I can almost 100% guarantee you that this will pass. If it weren’t for federal courts striking down our nonsense from time to time, we’d already be the Christian equivalent of Saudi Arabia.
Hasn’t anybody told them that this initiative will open the door to sharia?
Isn’t this pointless anyway? It was my admittedly canadian understanding that the constitution and its amendments trumped state constitutions.
michaeld, that is correct. I am not a lawyer, but I think there is nothing to prevent the Oklahomans from changing their constitution. But when someone does something based on that change, it can be taken to court. When it reaches federal court it should be struck down.