North Carolina: Debate Over Legislative Chapel

The Legislative Building in North Carolina has a "General Assembly Chapel" that includes a large number of Christian symbols. The dominance of Christianity here, alongside the absence of any other religion, certainly suggests religious favoritism and some are complaining about it.

News 14 explains:

Last week, Senator Tony Rand (D-Cumberland) had bibles, crosses and hymnals removed from the chapel, after hearing complaints from people of other faiths. Thursday, Senator Marc Basnight (D-Beaufort) had the materials put back, citing law makers’ use of the donated materials for prayer and reflection.

Senator Basnight's office said if people of other faiths are using it, their religious materials should also be welcome. ... Chris Holcomb is against the General Assembly Chapel’s materials. “It's not a religious institution. It's state government. And I don't see the relation of having a chapel in the legislative building to begin with," he said.

Cary Squires is in favor of the General Assembly Chapel’s materials. "Well this is America. We're founded on Christian principals. God should be involved in every fabric of our society and government," Squires explained.

Whether the state can justifiably spend money on maintaining a religious structure like a chapel, even if it is just a single room in a larger building, is questionable. If they are going to have such a room, though, it's pretty easy to see that they cannot favor one religion over all others. Squires' position is the worst of all — when he says "God should be involved" in society and government, he really means his conception of his god. He's advocating official, state endorsement of his religious beliefs over and above all other beliefs. Such actions are fit only for a repressive theocracy, not a pluralistic democracy.

Read More:

• Separation of Church and State 101
• Church and State News
• Secularism 101