"Whereas, the founding fathers of this great state begin the constitution with the words, ‘We’, the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty God … We desire there shall be a recognition of Almighty God as the source of authority; of the Lord Jesus Christ as the rightful ruler of nations…” the text for House Concurrent Resolution 3020 reads.
Many of these same lawmakers also introduced another bill urging the Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the case that legalized gay marriage across all 50 states.
HCR 3020 could be considered unconstitutional; the First Amendment clearly states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” Furthermore, one of the most influential Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson, wrote favorably of religious pluralism. In his autobiography, Jefferson recounts efforts to include an explicit effort to reference Jesus Christ within the Bill of Rights — which ultimately failed.
“The insertion was rejected by a great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of it’s [sic] protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mahometan, the Hindoo and infidel of every denomination,” Jefferson wrote in his 1821 autobiography.
Both bills — which reflect a broader trend of Christian nationalism amongst conservative lawmakers — come from Rep. Nico Rios (R-Williston). The representative previously created an uproar over antisemitic comments he made on social media last week.
