PHOENIX — Christianity is the reason other religions were allowed into the United States, an Arizona lawmaker and congressional candidate said Tuesday.
Sen. Anthony Kern’s comments come as he pushes the House Education Committee to pass his plan to allow the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every classroom. The Glendale Republican said it was only fair to allow this text not only to be posted on the wall, but also to allow teachers to talk about it.
“Our history is the Ten Commandments, our history is Judeo-Christian values,” he told committee members.
“And because America is a very diverse nation, it is through the Christian religion that we have allowed their religions to come in and be known,” Kern said. “The Christian religion and its foundation in this nation is the reason we have other religions in this nation.”
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Kern also claimed that the Ten Commandments are in the “founding documents” of the United States.
Pressed for details, he could not name any. But Kern said their essence is inherent in everything, including government officials and legislative districts.
“A lot of this is found in the Old Testament where Moses was asked to appoint leaders under him, leaders of 10, leaders of 50, leaders of 100,” he said . “That’s what everything is based on.”
But it is the idea that Christianity has a special place that is the basis of Kern’s speech. BS 1151 — and that’s the basis of objections from several lawmakers who said it has no place in schools, particularly where it would be teachers and administrators who would have the opportunity to post and discuss it.
What, Rep. Nancy Gutierrez, D-Tucson, asked about parental rights?
“This is a membership option for teachers,” Kern said.
“And normally what teachers do is inform parents that, ‘Hey, we’re going to talk about the Ten Commandments, world history, American history,'” he said. declared. “If a parent…wants to opt out, that is absolutely their prerogative.” »
That’s not what SB 1151 says.
Kern’s proposal, which has already been approved by the Senate, builds on existing law that allows certain materials to be read or posted in any school. These range from the national anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance to the writings of the founding fathers and presidents, Supreme Court decisions and the state motto “Ditas Deus,” meaning “God makes rich.”
SB 1151 would add the Ten Commandments to this list. And this would mean that the document could remain in force throughout the school year, with no real possibility of non-participation for a student enrolled in this class.
Kern did not immediately respond Tuesday asking how a parent could avoid having a student in a room with what is generally considered a religious document.
The option would be in the hands of the teacher.
“If a teacher feels that this should not be taught in their classroom, that is not a mandate,” Kern said. The same goes for displaying the commandments.
This permissive language appears to be an attempt to circumvent a 1980 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that concluded that requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in schools violated the First Amendment’s provision that it cannot be have “no law respecting the establishment of schools.” religion.”
Kern also made it clear that while religious freedom exists in the United States, its sole purpose is to allow the display and reading of the Ten Commandments. He said that if anyone else wanted to pass a law allowing teachers to speak or publish something from the Quran, “they can pass that law.”
And as for other religious texts, like the Book of Mormon, Kern said they are not referenced by this country’s founders — which would be impossible since the religion wasn’t founded until 1830.
“Our history is the Ten Commandments, our history is Judeo-Christian values,” he said.
“It’s because of the Ten Commandments that this country is founded on,” Kern said. “Our system of government is based on the Ten Commandments.”
Gutierrez said Kern’s view of the country was based on a flawed view of its history.
“Our legacy in America is built on us coming in, stealing land from indigenous people, taking away their religion and replacing it with ours,” she said.
“We are not a Christian nation but a nation that allows people to practice according to their own faith,” Gutierrez continued. This includes not only multiple religions, but also people who practice none.
She also pointed out that the Ten Commandments are nowhere in the official curriculum of what students are supposed to learn.
Rep. Jennifer Pawlik, D-Chandler, agreed.
“If parents want religious education for their child, they can choose a private school, they can teach them at home or take them to church or temple,” she said.
The measure cleared the committee in a 6-4 vote, but only because Rep. David Cook, R-Globe, agreed to accept it despite his misgivings. He cited that 1980 decision.
“I took an oath to uphold the constitution of Arizona and the country,” Cook said. But he agreed to allow the measure to proceed in hopes of getting a clearer ruling from House staff attorneys when the measure now goes to the Rules Committee.
Howard Fischer is a veteran journalist who has been reporting since 1970 and covering state and legislative politics since 1982. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, and on Threads at @azcapmedia or by email. azcapmedia@gmail.com.
