'Year of the Bible' Lawsuit Unsuccessful, But Judge Blasts General Assembly

Although a lawsuit filed against the Pennsylvania General Assembly for its stunning and offensive "Year of the Bible" proclamation was not successful, it is gratifying that presiding U.S. District Judge Christopher Conner condemned its passage in strong terms, serving to warn the members not to engage in similar antics in the future. 

It is interesting that a body of legislators which has refused to address so many critical issues (property tax reform/relief, our crumbling roads and bridges, privatization of the state liquor monopoly, elimination of the state's onerous death/inheritance tax for all, and others) devoted even one minute of time to sticking its hand into a religious directive, an action which is particularly amusing, given the sanctimonious nature of many of our "leaders." The resolution would have been outlandish enough had it sought to render this "the year of prayer," but it went further than that, telling us that the Bible is "the word of God," seeking to favor one set of religious beliefs over another and over those who have none.

The Pennsylvania General Assembly should be the last body which one would consult for pointers on how to model their lives and for how to worship if one chooses to do so. I hope that the members, some of whom voted for the resolution without knowing what was in it, paid close attention to the chastisement of the judge, one who is obviously wiser than them in this respect.

The sponsor of the resolution, state Rep. Rick Saccone, an educated man, is running for re-election this year and has a strong and principled opponent, former state Rep. David Levdansky. I wonder if there will be any backlash against Rep. Saccone for the poor judgment he displayed in his efforts to impose his set of religious beliefs on others.