home > newsroom ACLU of Utah Cautions Utah Cities and State About National Bible Week FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 20, 1998 SALT LAKE CITY – Today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah sent letters to the mayors of Provo, Springville, North Salt Lake, and Bountiful, as well as to Governor Leavitt, urging those elected officials to rescind city and state proclamations that declare next week "National Bible Week." The ACLU of Utah maintains that such proclamations are in clear violation of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which, through the Establishment Clause, prohibits government from promoting religion, giving preferences to any religion, or supporting or establishing a religion. They are also in violation of Article I Section 4 of the Utah State Constitution, which provides in part, that, "There shall be no union of Church and State," and that, "No public money or property shall be appropriated for . . . the support of any ecclesiastical establishment." "These proclamations clearly breach the wall of separation between government and religion, and the use of public money and resources to issue such a statement is simply unacceptable," stated Stephen Clark, ACLU of Utah legal director. Particularly disturbing is the fact that often, such proclamations encourage "personal reading and study of the Bible" as a way to commend the observance of Bible Week. Clark noted that, "city and state residents are of many different religious backgrounds, and their taxes simply can not be used for such a blatant endorsement of Christian faiths." In rescinding these proclamations, elected officials will avoid the possibility of a lawsuit, such as the one filed yesterday against the State of Arizona by the ACLU of Arizona. More importantly, notes Clark, they will preclude the divisive effects that such proclamations have had in other areas of the country and ensure true religious liberty. The ACLU of Utah awaits a response from the mayors and the governor. --end--

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