Atheists are not allowed in public office in North Carolina
According to the North Carolina Constitution, atheists are not allowed to serve in public office.
In flagrant violation of the US constitution, anyone taking up office must swear an oath which references God:
Sec. 7. Oath.
Before entering upon the duties of an office, a person elected or appointed to the office shall take and subscribe the following oath:
“I, _______________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and maintain the Constitution and laws of the United States, and the Constitution and laws of North Carolina not inconsistent therewith, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of my office as _______________, so help me God.“
To make things worse, someone who denies God cannot be allowed to take up office:
Sec. 8. Disqualifications for office.
The following persons shall be disqualified for office:
First, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God.
Second, with respect to any office that is filled by election by the people, any person who is not qualified to vote in an election for that office.
Third, any person who has been adjudged guilty of treason or any other felony against this State or the United States, or any person who has been adjudged guilty of a felony in another state that also would be a felony if it had been committed in this State, or any person who has been adjudged guilty of corruption or malpractice in any office, or any person who has been removed by impeachment from any office, and who has not been restored to the rights of citizenship in the manner prescribed by law.
The complete text of article VI “Suffrage and eligibility to office” of the constitution of North Carolina can be found here: Article 6 of the NC Constitution.
It is often said that such articles are unenforceable because they violate the US constitution and that they are therefore just unimportant and rather quaint remnants of more primitive times. However, reality is that the religious lot in the US still uses these obsolete texts to harass atheists.
State constitutions that still contain backward texts like these should therefore be revised and updated.
