Faith and government are pillars of our country that work best when they’re separate.
Pilgrims eyed a new home for economic opportunities, but also for freedom of and from religion. They wanted to escape the overreach of the Church of England, and they established such a place in what is now the U.S.
Religious beliefs certainly inspire and shape the opinions and stances of many Americans, including elected officials. But our government is intended to serve all citizens, from atheists to those who practice religions that are less common. The line is crossed when the system favors one belief over others.
Government shouldn’t impede religion, just as religion shouldn’t be forced on those who hold differing views. It’s the American way. Unfortunately, some Hoosier officeholders are seeking to force their religious beliefs into public spaces.
Gov. Mike Braun and Attorney General Todd Rokita are pushing to have a federal injunction lifted so a monument displaying the Ten Commandments can be reinstalled on the Statehouse grounds. In the legislature, Republican State Rep. Michelle Davis is sponsoring a bill that would require schools to display a poster of the Ten Commandments in each classroom and library.
These proposals tread on the rights of Hoosiers. They’re also unnecessary. There’s no law preventing people from studying or following the Ten Commandments in their private lives. Pushing those beliefs into public spaces is an entirely different situation.
Those who support displaying the Ten Commandments in the public domain should be honest and ask themselves a simple question – would they feel the same if scripture from the Quran were to be engraved on a monument at the capital? Would they get behind posters with Hindu beliefs being plastered on the walls of classrooms?
If the answer is “no,” then this is nothing more than Christian Nationalism. It’s an attempt to force beliefs on others, and it’s wrong.
How would a Muslim student feel about seeing only the Ten Commandments displayed in his school library? How would a non-believer react to seeing a monument displayed at the capital praising beliefs and a narrative she doesn’t share?
Indiana lawmakers who are backing these efforts should remember when a Satanic Temple band was allowed to perform inside of the Statehouse in 2023. It was permitted after former Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch assisted in getting a Christian prayer rally inside of the Statehouse due to inclement weather.
Her decision backfired because religious liberty doesn’t apply to just Christianity. If one group’s beliefs are permitted in a public space then all should be allowed. If not, lawsuits often follow.
Instead of getting caught in another embarrassing situation, Braun, Rokita and Davis should keep their religious doctrines out of the public square. Those beliefs belong in churches, not public schools or the Statehouse.
There are more pressing matters for the governor, attorney general and legislature than using public spaces and potentially taxpayer money to push religion. Keep church and state separate.
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