Lawmakers designate 'Year of the Bible' in Pa.
January 30, 2012
By Mary WilsonState House lawmakers have declared 2012 the "Year of the Bible" in Pennsylvania.
The unanimous vote in the House favored a resolution to recognize how the book has shaped the commonwealth, and the "national need to study and apply the teachings of the holy Scriptures."
Sponsoring Rep. Rick Saccone, R-Allegheny, said he's been getting a bit of critical feedback on the measure.
"One person put on the comments, 'Why don't you have a resolution honoring the Quran?' Well, we could, but the Quran didn't have an influence on the founding of our country," Saccone said. "I'm honoring a document and reflecting on a document that had a significant impact on the foundation and throughout the history of our country."
A spokesman for the Pennsylvania American Civil Liberties Union says there's no legal issue with the measure, but it sends a message of exclusion to religious minorities.
Saccone, however, said it's not intended that way.
He likens it to many other largely symbolic pieces of legislation -- recognizing Girl Scout Week, honoring Jewish chaplains, or paying tribute to military veterans.
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