Florida Does Away With Separation of Church And State

[Farnhamia]

'In God We Trust' now must be displayed in all Florida schools, school buildings

As students return to school this week in Florida, they will see something new: "In God We Trust."

Gov. Scott signed a bill in March that requires all schools to display signs with the state motto in "a conspicuous place."

The measure is part of a sweeping education bill signed into law in March by Gov. Rick Scott, which includes the nation's first ever private school voucher program for bullied students.

The state statute (1003.44) specifically says, "Each district school board shall adopt rules to require, in all of the schools of the district and in each building used by the district school board, the display of the state motto, “In God We Trust,” designated under s. 15.0301, in a conspicuous place."

The measure was sponsored by Rep. Kimberly Daniels, D-Jacksonville, who runs a Christian ministry, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

“This motto is inscribed on the halls of this great capitol and inked on our currency, and it should be displayed so that our children will be exposed and educated on this great motto, which is a part of this country’s foundation,” she said when a House committee took up her bill (HB 839). “Something so great should not be hidden.”

“In God We Trust” has been part of Florida’s state seal since 1868 and on the state flag since 1900, but has been the state motto only since 2006, according to the Florida Department of State.

Locally, St. Lucie Public Schools has provided all schools with a front office poster "to meet the expectations of this statute," according to Kerry Padrick, the district's chief communications officer.

The Palm Beach County School District emailed all principals two signs, telling them to print one and post in a conspicuous place in each of their school buildings.

Okeechobee County schools have all been provided with the state seal which displays this statement and are required to display it "in a prominent spot on each campus."

WPTV has reached out to all five local school districts and will update this story when we receive their responses.

Obviously, this is complete bullshit and shoots down any talking point about Christians facing persecution in the United States. Is the Separation of Church and State an absolute must? I say yes.

[Yagon]

Yeah, that's great. Nothing changes the way kids think and act like putting a sign on a wall in the school.

This is gonna really change things.

Within half a semester, Florida's schools will be free of crime, drugs, and boning their teachers. It will be like Little House on the Prairie but with more Spanish.

Good job, Florida. You've really made a difference.

[The Alma Mater]

The cold war is over. Putin rules the USA through his puppet.
Why not return to e pluribus unum ?

[Page]

Ah, my home state. I always defend it. I always tell people "Florida isn't the South... except for northern Florida which is, but South Florida isn't the South... come to the Tampa Bay area, we do gay pride and kava bars instead of confederate flags and snake handling churches..."

But then Rick Scott's government pulls shit like this. There was the whole mandatory viewing of an ultrasound abortion law, there was the unconstitutional drug testing welfare recipients crap, then Parkland happened and we had some Republicans make our state infamous for wanting to pray the shooters away. And now this.

All it takes to scrap this though is one brave plantiff who will get the help of the FFRF or ACLU to smack this down.

[Des-Bal]

Having not read the thread I assume the title is not at all accurate.


Having read the thread I was right.

Okay so despite the fact that the phrase is already on currency, already the state motto, and already all over the capitol building Florida has now done away with the separation of church and state by putting it on posters for schools to hang up.

[Cetacea]

well if its the State motto, then it only seems proper that a goodly and righteous Floridaian will seal the annoited words within their heart and meditate on its meaning each day

[Washington Resistance Army]

In God We Trust doesn't violate the separation of church and state.

[Shofercia]

Most of Christians never said that Christians are persecuted in the US by the Federal Government. There has been some backlash against Conservative Professors, but it's usually not limited to religion. That said, not really seeing a big issue here, just an issue that the Democrats and Republicans agree on in Florida. In California that issue would be offshore drilling. We need to find issues that unite the US, since the country's already divided.

[Cedoria]

In God We Trust doesn't violate the separation of church and state.

Does if it's put up on government buildings.

[Cedoria]

well if its the State motto, then it only seems proper that a goodly and righteous Floridaian will seal the annoited words within their heart and meditate on its meaning each day

What about all the non-goodly and unrighteous ones? Why must they be subjected to this drivel?

[Shofercia]

well if its the State motto, then it only seems proper that a goodly and righteous Floridaian will seal the annoited words within their heart and meditate on its meaning each day

What about all the non-goodly and unrighteous ones? Why must they be subjected to this drivel?

They don't deserve to be Floridians

(No, I'm not being serious)

[Cedoria]

What about all the non-goodly and unrighteous ones? Why must they be subjected to this drivel?

They don't deserve to be Floridians

(No, I'm not being serious)

That's what I thought:)

[Washington Resistance Army]

In God We Trust doesn't violate the separation of church and state.

Does if it's put up on government buildings.

The legal system disagrees.

[El-Amin Caliphate]

I don't see a problem with this

[Chan Island]

Keep it classy, Florida.

Interestingly, this idea was proposed by a democrat. So yay bipartisanship I guess?

[Kubumba Tribe]

If Florida is "doing away with separation of church and state", we might as well say that the US was never secular. The title is reaching too hard.

[Cedoria]

Keep it classy, Florida.

Interestingly, this idea was proposed by a democrat. So yay bipartisanship I guess?

They do pick the worst issues to unite on.

[Bombadil]

I mean.. let's be honest the separation of Church and State is less that the Church should intrude on the State and more the State should not intrude on the Church. As was noted at some point in the Supreme Court..

..holding that the nation's "institutions presuppose a Supreme Being" and that government recognition of God does not constitute the establishment of a state church as the Constitution's authors intended to prohibit.

However one could interpret this statute to also presuppose it's a Christian god they're referring to, and this does impact on the idea of a particular religion being imposed.

We all know it's an agenda hidden behind ambiguity of meaning. Even if they went ahead and put 'In Jesus we Trust' they could argue this doesn't favour a specific Church as there's many denominations and even Muslim and Jewish faiths recognise Jesus as holy.

Apparently there's quite a lot of support for a constitutional convention these days, engineered by the Christian Right.. a theocracy awaits..

[The Greater Ohio Valley]

Does if it's put up on government buildings.

The legal system disagrees.

Only if it passes the lemon test.

[Christian Democrats]

Question: Which church, or "establishment of religion," does this Florida law endorse?

[The Alma Mater]

Question: Which church, or "establishment of religion," does this Florida law endorse?

It denies polytheism ?

[An Alan Smithee Nation]

They should probably put their trust in Poseidon or Neptune.

[Kubumba Tribe]

.. a theocracy awaits..

Insha-Allah

[Bombadil]

.. a theocracy awaits..

Insha-Allah

I don't know why religion is so very weak and afraid as to have this need to force it on people..

[Greater vakolicci haven]

And precisely 7 people in the world are outraged (No, not 7 in this thread. 7. 7 total.)

Honestly, not seeing the problem. It's the state motto, it's on money, it's everywhere. For whom is this a big issue?