Blue State Cuts ‘So Help Me God’ from Oath Requirement Following Atheist Group’s Federal Lawsuit
Atheists Celebrate as New Jersey Drops “So Help Me God” Oath Requirement
A decision by New Jersey to eliminate the requirement for political candidates to sign an oath that included the phrase “so help me God” has been met with applause from atheists.
However, some conservatives have expressed outrage over the move.
Podcaster Ken Matthews, known for guest hosting for Rush Limbaugh, summed up the situation with a provocative tweet: “Communist Republic of New Jersey Kicks Out God Again.”
COMMUNIST REPUBLIC OF New Jersey (CRNJ) KICKS OUT GOD AGAIN. https://t.co/5W8TSYUMzx
— KenMatthews (@KenMatthews) November 18, 2023
New Jersey drops religious oath for political candidates
On a federal level, while many oaths to serve in government include the phrase “so help me, God,” others — most notably the presidential oath of office — do not require it.
Read more https://t.co/OjjsO25mId
— Real America’s Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) November 18, 2023
The requirement was dropped in late October after an unbeliever filed a federal lawsuit against the New Jersey Secretary of State.
James Tosone, a 70-year-old Bergen County resident who wants to run for congress, filed the federal suit Oct. 3 with the help of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which boasted that, thanks to its successful legal battle, the state “is becoming markedly more inclusive.”
The suit claimed that the requirement violated the First Amendment rights of Tosone, a self-described “nontheist.”
“While Mr. Tosone previously completed the candidate petition in order to participate in past elections, he now sincerely believes, as a matter of conscience, that he cannot swear ‘so help me God,'” the lawsuit said.
“By requiring plaintiff to swear ‘so help me God,’ in order to run for public office, without a secular option, the secretary of state has inflicted, and will continue to inflict, irreparable harm upon (Tosone),” it continued.
NJ.com said a state elections specialist advised Tosone to contact legislators to change the state statute.
That evidently happened, because on Oct. 24, a memo went out from Lauren Zyriek, acting director of the New Jersey Division of Elections, to all county clerks, advising them of several changes in the statute.
Petitioners for placement on a ballot now have the option “to make a solemn affirmation or declaration in lieu of an oath,” according to the memo.
Prospective candidates, according to the statement, can either choose to use the secular-leaning phrase, “I … do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm” or they can use the more traditional, “I … do declare, in the presence of Almighty God, the witness of the truth of what I say.”
“In addition, in the affirmation or declaration, the words ‘so help me God’ shall be omitted,” the memo added.
Tosone’s attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the suit Monday, and a judge signed a dismissal order the next day, NJ.com reported.
Not every public office in every state has historically required a “so help me God” type of oath for candidates filing to run, or for those being sworn into office.
Many areas do so, Just the News reported, but others, “most notably the presidential oath of office — do not require it.”
The outlet added that Donald Trump and Joe Biden have both chosen to use the phrase when taking their oath of office.
In doing so, they were following a tradition believed to date back to President Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration in 1861.
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How does the controversy surrounding New Jersey’s decision to remove religious language from political oaths raise questions about religious freedom, inclusivity, and the separation of church and state, and what implications might this have for other states in the future
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The decision by the state of New Jersey to remove the requirement for political candidates to include the phrase “so help me God” in their oath has been met with approval from atheists. However, it has also sparked outrage among conservatives who view it as an affront to religious values.
The controversy began when James Tosone, a self-described “nontheist” who wanted to run for congress, filed a federal lawsuit against the New Jersey Secretary of State. Tosone argued that the requirement violated his First Amendment rights as he believed he could not swear an oath that included reference to God. With the help of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Tosone successfully challenged the requirement, leading to its elimination in late October.
The move has been seen by atheists as a step towards inclusivity and religious neutrality in politics. The Freedom From Religion Foundation hailed the decision as a victory for those who believe in the separation of church and state. They argue that the inclusion of religious language in political oaths excludes and marginalizes those who do not subscribe to a particular faith.
However, conservatives have criticized the decision, with some labeling it as an attack on religious freedom. Podcaster Ken Matthews, known for his guest hosting on the Rush Limbaugh show, referred to New Jersey as the “Communist Republic” and accused the state of “kicking out God again.” Such sentiments highlight the deep divide between those who believe in the importance of religious values in government and those who advocate for a strict separation of church and state.
It is worth noting that while many oaths at the federal level include the phrase “so help me God,” others, such as the presidential oath of office, do not require it. This suggests that the inclusion of religious language in political oaths is not a universal practice and varies from state to state. However, the controversy surrounding New Jersey’s decision highlights the sensitive nature of the issue and the strong emotions it can evoke.
Ultimately, the removal of the requirement for political candidates in New Jersey to include the phrase “so help me God” in their oath is a significant development that reflects the ongoing debate over the role of religion in politics. It raises important questions about religious freedom, inclusivity, and the separation of church and state. As New Jersey moves towards a more secular approach, it remains to be seen how other states will respond and whether this decision will set a precedent for similar changes in the future.
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