The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation today filed a federal lawsuit in a bid to kill a resolution adopted by the Pennsylvania House of Representative that declares 2012 the "Year of the Bible."

The foundation is asking U.S. Middle District Court to rule that the resolution, which encourages Pennsylvanians to study tenets of the Scriptures, violates the U.S. Constitution's mandatory separation of church and state.

The group argues that the resolution creates a "hostile environment" for non-Christians and "implicitly marginalizes and disparages non-Christians and nonbelievers." Also, the foundation contends in its suit that the resolution "establishes an officially endorsed and preferred religion" for the state in violation of federal law.

One of the defendants in the suit is state Rep. Rick Saccone, R-Allegheny County, a sponsor of the resolution. In an editorial piece published in The Patriot-News last month, Saccone said the measure "recognizes the significant impact the Bible has had on our country. It in no way inhibits anyone from believing in any faith or no faith."

Other groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Atheists and leaders of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches, also have questioned whether the resolution crossed a constitutional boundary.