Tennessee lawmakers narrowly approved a proposal to recognize the Holy Bible as the state’s official book Monday night, sending the resolution on to Gov. Bill Haslam for final consideration.
The move came nearly a year after reservations from Republicans throughout the legislature appeared to derail the proposal, which would make Tennessee the only state in the country to name the Bible as an official symbol.
The measure,
House Bill 615, cleared the Senate on a 19-8 vote — just two more than the 17 needed for passage.
Critics called the proposal both unconstitutional and sacrilegious. They also pointed out there are many versions of the Bible, none of which are specified in the resolution.
Instead the measure focuses on the Bible’s general “historical and cultural significance.” It also notes the importance of Bible publishing to Nashville and the book’s use as a genealogical record.
Republican state Sen. Steve Southerland, the ordained minister from Morristown behind the proposal, ducked attempts to pin him down on his motivations.
“I can’t make it a religious or history book. The Bible is what it is,” he said.
Southerland insisted though that the lawyers, including Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery, who have said the proposal is unconstitutional are wrong. He cited the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2005 ruling that
upheld a display of the Ten Commandments at the Texas Capitol.
Other opponents include the Tennessee chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. Minutes after the vote, it issued a statement calling the plan a “thinly-veiled effort to promote one religion over other religions.” The group urged Haslam to veto it.
He has said placing the Bible alongside state symbols like the Tennessee cave salamander and the song “Rocky Top” would be disrespectful. But he’s stopped short of promising a veto.
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