Foes try to nullify election of atheist in N. Carolina [View All]

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

http://www.examiner.com/x-8947-LA-Atheism-Examiner~y2009m12d8-Foes-try-to-nullify-election-of-atheist-in-N-Carolina

On Nov. 3, the voters of Asheville, North Carolina spoke and elected writer and builder Cecil Bothwell to the city council. Now, some who opposed his election are saying that he can't hold public office. Why? Because he's an atheist.

Article 6, section 8 of the state constitution says: “The following persons shall be disqualified for office: First, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God.”

H. K. Edgerton, a former Asheville NAACP president best known for promoting "Southern heritage" by publicly dressing in a Confederate uniform and displaying a Confederate flag, said, “I'm not saying that Cecil Bothwell is not a good man, but if he's an atheist, he's not eligible to serve in public office, according to the state constitution.”

(...)

According to constitutional lawyers such as Bob Orr, executive director of the N.C. Institute for Constitutional Law, there's no question to be resolved. The US Constitution, with its First Amendment guarantee of religious freedom and Article VI's “no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States,” trumps any state restriction. (more at link)

But, of course, it's Christians who are oppressed. :eyes: