Jason Clayworth

jclayworth@dmreg.com

Two national groups issued warnings to Gov. Terry Branstad on Wednesday that one of his recent proclamations promotes Christian scripture and violates the Constitution.

“In exalting Christianity above all other religious and nonreligious worldviews, the governor is discriminating against non-Christian citizens and infringing upon their right to be free from religious coercion by the state,” said Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association, based in Washington, D.C.

Branstad’s proclamation encourages Iowans to take part in a statewide Bible-reading marathon planned at the courthouses of all 99 counties, some with prayers every 15 minutes from June 30 through July 3.

Branstad in April signed a proclamation "in the name and by the authority of the state of Iowa," calling the event "historic." The proclamation encourages Iowans to participate in the events and “to read through the Bible on a daily basis each year until the Lord comes.”

The proclamation made headlines last week after the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and the Freedom From Religion Foundation said they were reviewing the matter with an eye toward litigation. They say the governor’s action violates what is known as the “Lemon Test.” That’s a reference to a 1971 U.S. Supreme Court case named after Alton Lemon, the plaintiff in a case that determined it was unconstitutional for Pennsylvania to reimburse private schools for salaries and textbooks.

The foundation also sent a letter to Branstad on Wednesday asking that he rescind the proclamation. It also points out what the organization's officials say are multiple historical or factual errors. Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor said Wednesday the group is "readying a lawsuit."

The American Humanist Association’s letter to Branstad says that phrases in the proclamation such as "all Scripture is essential to prepare us to be the people God wants us to be," as well as a number of historical claims they say are biased and inaccurate, “is an outrageous violation of church-state separation.”

Branstad this week said he is “astounded” someone would challenge the constitutionality of his proclamation and called any potential lawsuit “stupid.”

“Now, there’s a difference between endorsing a specific religion and just encouraging people to pray, which encompasses virtually all religions,” Branstad said. “So I can’t see why anybody would want to object to people having the opportunity to pray.”

First Liberty Institute, a legal organization focused on protecting religious freedom, has said it would defend Branstad should any of the groups file a lawsuit in the matter.

FFRF Letter to Branstad