Fox News reports that methodist FL governor Crist [edit - AC ] put up a mezuzah he received from a state representative. The ACLU is suing claiming that it has legal implications in the separation between church and state.
I disagree with the ACLU on this one. First, these are not 10 Commandments in a courtroom. The sheer size of the mezuzah precludes its inclusion as a public icon of religion. Second, it is not clear how the separation of church and state applies to the FL state house [edit - AC], particularly in light of the frequent invocation of the divine to swear people in and hold ceremonies. Third, what does the FL constitution say? Fourth, there is the esoteric question of what to do when a religious symbol is not posted as such. This man is not a Jew. He is not posting this mezuzah as a religious act. Is this somehow an intrinsically religious act?
Finally, this is an odd case. This is a big issue for the ACLU, but not for the representative. As a matter of personal faith, it does not matter to him. If it offended his faith, presumably, he would not have had a problem turning down the gift, so you'd imagine that if public opinion sided with the ACLU, he would cede the issue. The more interesting question is: what about Jewish governors?. If there is a biblical requirement to put this up and the House or some other body prevents you from doing it, you have a 1st Am. vs. implied 1st Am. problem. You have a right to exercise religion. That should beat an implied separation of church and state.
Thoughts?
More: http://www.topix.com/content/trb/2007/09/crist-to-celebrate-rosh-hashana-with-broward-democrat
[ Thanks to JR for the link ]
2 comments:
Alon, not be a dick...but Crist is the governor, not a rep. Also, do you no find it funny at all that his last name is Crist? I mean, really...the irony is dripping.
Assumption: the governor lives in the state house.
If he has the authority to change the curtains to whatever he would like, he should also have the authority to attach a decoration to the doorframe. I would think that a Jewish governor would absolutely have permissionn to affix a mezuzah on the state house doorpost - the same way that a Christian governor could hang a crucifix in the living room, or an Athiest governor could fill the bookshelves with Nietzche and Russel.
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