Bill Making Bible the State Book Advances

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 29, 2016

CONTACT
Lindsay Kee, ACLU-TN communications director, (615) 320-7142

NASHVILLE –The Senate Judiciary Committee voted today to advance SB 1108, a bill that would make the Bible the official state book of Tennessee.

The measure’s companion bill, HB 615, passed the House last spring.

The following can be attributed to Hedy Weinberg, executive director of the ACLU of Tennessee:

“We are disappointed that Tennessee lawmakers have voted to use their official positions to promote their personal religious beliefs. The rich religious diversity in our state is best respected by ensuring that government does not promote specific religious books. Selecting the Bible as the state book amounts to government promotion of one religion over other religions, which clearly violates both the U.S. and Tennessee Constitutions. America is a place where people are free to practice religion, or not, without government officials deciding which beliefs should be endorsed. We will continue to fight this unconstitutional legislation.”