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Theocracy-Friendly Constitutional Amendment on Tennessee Ballot [1]

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Date: 2022-07-18

Tennessee’s balance of bigotry is on the November ballot. And it’s ugly.

The state constitution contains anachronistic religious litmus tests for public service. Article IX “Disqualifications” prohibits ministers and priests from serving in the legislature and also prohibits atheists from holding any office in the “civil department” of the state. Here’s the specific language:

Article IX, Sec. 1 “Whereas ministers of the Gospel are by their profession, dedicated to God and the care of souls, and ought not to be diverted from the great duties of their functions; therefore, no minister of the Gospel, or priest of any denomination whatever, shall be eligible to a seat in either House of the Legislature.”

Article IX, Sec. II “No person who denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards and punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this state.”

Both provisions likely violate the Federal constitution and for this reason appear largely symbolic. But, like the Confederate flag, they lend a face to the state’s relentless Christofascism.

Symbolism matters greatly in politics and this November’s ballot will ask voters to repeal Sec. I and eliminate it’s constitutional impediment to ministers and priests serving in the legislature. Of course the repeal will pass. Campaigning from the pulpit will become even more brazen. And of course Tennessee’s constitutional ban on public service by atheists will remain ironically sacrosanct.

And, after the legislature is stacked with ministers and priests, we will enjoy further fruits of the growing Holy Communion between church and state, as illustrated by this recent court decision, refusing to interfere with the Tennessee legislature’s steps to limit the number of unwanted babies that will be available for adoption by non-Christian families.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/7/18/2111024/-Theocracy-Friendly-Constitutional-Amendment-on-Tennessee-Ballot

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