Some of the bills, inspired by the “Christian nationalist” movement, would require public schools to erect monuments to the Ten Commandments, and allow public schools to hire chaplains in place of secular counselors.
“It’s not just a perversion of our Constitution, it’s a perversion of my faith,” said Talarico. “Jesus, when he was in the wilderness, was tempted by Satan with, among other things, political power — with all the kingdoms of the world. That should go to show us Christian nationalism is kind of an oxymoron. The idea that this universal faith, based on radical universal love, could be confined to one political subdivision is just contrary to the entire gospel. Furthermore, to use political power to hurt marginalized people — whether it’s folks from other faith traditions like Hindus and Buddhists and Muslims, or whether it’s to hurt LGBTQ people, or women seeking reproductive health care — (is) blasphemous, according to my reading of the New Testament.”