Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey is standing his ground on an Easter Facebook post and is challenging his critics to read the U.S. Constitution amid demands he take it down.
The Republican leader made it abundantly clear that he was not caving in to politically correct demands that he remove a religious post on Facebook on grounds that it violates the separation of church and state, which is found nowhere in the Constitution, according to the Arizona Republic.
The governor declared that the Easter post, which said, “He is risen” and featured an image of a cross and a Bible verse, would not be coming down “ever,” and noted that neither would any other religious holiday posts, including those for Passover and Rosh Hashanah.
We won’t be removing this post. Ever. Nor will we be removing our posts for Christmas, Hanukkah, Rosh Hashanah, Palm Sunday, Passover or any other religious holiday. We support the First Amendment, and are happy to provide copies of the Constitution to anyone who hasn’t read it. https://t.co/UzZpLAzzuW
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) April 25, 2019
“We support the First Amendment, and are happy to provide copies of the Constitution to anyone who hasn’t read it,” Ducey tweeted in response to the article published by Arizona Republic on Thursday.
Secular Communities for Arizona blasted the governor for his Easter post, stating that “elected officials should not use their government position and government property to promote their religious views.”
Courts have repeatedly “struck down symbolism that unites government with religion,” and the Governor’s Office must “represent and protect the rights of all residents of Arizona, including those who do not believe in a monotheistic god or any gods at all,” the advocacy group’s attorney Dianne Post wrote in a letter to Ducey on Tuesday.
And while some seemed to agree, commenting on the governor’s post with comments telling him to “please share your religious greetings on your personal page,” others applauded Ducey’s courage to be outspoken about his Catholic faith, the Arizona Republic noted.
“Great sensitivity, Doug. That’s the last time this Jew votes for you,” one person wrote, apparently not paying attention to Ducey’s Passover message a few days before.
The governor had posted another message on the Christian holy day, wishing “all Arizonans” a Happy Easter and a “wonderful day surrounded by friends and loved ones,” with an Easter basket graphic.
In a separate press release last Friday, he wished people a “blessed and joyful Easter and Passover weekend.”
“To send a government greeting on religious holidays, the government must send (one) to every single religion,” the Secular Communities for Arizona attorney wrote in the letter to Ducey.
“According to the Encyclopedia of American Religions, there are 1,584 different religions in the world,” Post added. “The best course for government is to stay out of it completely and leave it to the personal realm.”
Many of Ducey’s constituents, however, were happy to back him up for his stand on faith and his understanding of the Constitution.
We may have our differences, but I applaud my Governor @DougDucey and The Governor’s Office in Defending and Supporting Everyone’s Constitutional Rights, including Religion. Mutual Respect Equals Tollerance, Understanding And Civility. God Bless Governor Ducey!
— Jonathan F. Bee (@JonathanFBee) April 25, 2019
Too many over-sensitive keyboard warriors out there. Keep up the good work!
— Lisa Montee (@lisa_montee) April 25, 2019
Proud to stand with Governor Ducey!
— Jonathan W. Lines (@JWLines) April 25, 2019
We might not agree on some issues but this is a job well done. Do not concede to the keyboard warriors, as soon as you do they will never stop.
— cDavis (@Random_Dadness) April 25, 2019
Just because one gets elected to office doesn’t mean they check their faith at the door. And no, it is not to be practiced behind closed doors only. If that is true for Muslims, it’s true for Christians and Jews and Secularists as well.
— Teri Ploski (@taPloski) April 25, 2019
The first amendment states “Freedom of Religion” not “Freedom from Religion”
— Jeremy Moeller (@JDM776) April 25, 2019
???Pocket Constitutions FTW
— Courtney Shadegg (@CShadegg) April 25, 2019
Of course, there is always “that ONE person.”
If that is the case, since *I* am an Arizona citizen, and Wiccan, I sincerely hope you also posted images for all the Wiccan holidays. Ostara was the last one on 04/21/2019. Here is a nice one you can include. I’ll be checking at each major Wiccan holiday to make sure you posted. pic.twitter.com/lCq7g9cA6h
— gilliansl (@gilliansl1) April 25, 2019
There’s always that ONE person?. (So annoying)
— Lily (@Lilllyyy__) April 25, 2019
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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