Raleigh, North Carolina - Opposing HJR 599, the "Week of Prayer" bill passed last week in Raleigh, the Secular Coalition for North Carolina (SCNC), an advocacy group for secular citizens, has issued a counter measure, A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE NATIONAL DAY OF REASON AND A WEEK OF REASON FOR NORTH CAROLINA.
The resolution is in response to recent actions by the governor and lawmakers. Since the opening of the legislative session, they have put forth a number of bills and resolutions designed to showcase and promote specifically Christian religious beliefs, including permanent state license plates for church buses, Bible courses in public schools, establishment of Christianity as the official state religion, the "Week of Prayer" bill, and just this past Wednesday, three more bills promoting Christianity in the public sector.
"We think enough time has been wasted with religious grand-standing. The state is better served by redirecting these energies to creating jobs, providing health care, rebuilding crumbling infrastructure, and balancing the state budget, to name a few," said Susanne Werner, SCNC Co-Chair, "They need to get off their knees and get back to work."
In addition to proclaiming a "North Carolina Week of Reason in conjunction with the National Day of Reason on May 2," the SCNC resolution accuses NC legislators of "flouting" and "working to undermine" the U.S. Constitution with these recently proposed bills and resolutions.
MORE: http://secular.org/files/nc_press_release.pdf
See also...
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE NATIONAL DAY OF REASON AND A WEEK OF REASON FOR NORTH CAROLINA
http://secular.org/states/chapters/north_carolina/
Earlier...
Opinion: NC "State Religion" bill part of a larger trend
http://www.secularnewsdaily.com/2013/04/opinion-nc-state-religion-bill-part-of-a-larger-trend/
Can North Carolina Declare an "Official" Religion?
http://ideas.time.com/2013/04/08/can-u-s-states-have-official-religions/#ixzz2Psj7WhVC
What part of 'no law respecting an establishment of religion' does North Carolina not understand?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/what-part-of-no-law-respecting-an-establishment-of-religion-does-north-carolina-not-understand/2013/04/04/90c33440-9d1a-11e2-9a79-eb5280c81c63_story.html?wprss=rss_on-faith
Sponsor of NC religion resolution apologizes
http://www.wwaytv3.com/2013/04/05/sponsor-of-nc-religion-resolution-apologizes
And...
N.C. House lawmaker links Islamic prayer to terrorism
http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/nc_house_lawmaker_links_islamic_prayer_to_terrorism
