Mayor of Flower Mound declares 2014 Year of the Bible, raising q - Dallas News | myFOXdfw.com

"And I've been thinking about it for two years, and procrastinated about if for as long as I possibly could."

Might it be that the reason he procrastinated is because he knew it would start up a shitstorm. The Mayor and his supporters may want to spend more time reading the Constitution than David Barton.

They mayor says the proclamation was not law, not voted on by the Flower Mound City Council and not an official town action.

However, it still raises some questions with some Flower Mound residents.

"He was elected mayor," said Flower Mound resident Curt Orton. "Not as the spiritual leader of Flower Mound."

Here is what is troubling besides the obvious Fist Amendment issues: "He was elected mayor,,,,Not as the spiritual leader of Flower Mound."

Even though Hayden's proclamation is not a law, his use of the office of mayor is an inappropriate gesture. He and other members of the community are entitled to their spiritual beliefs but the First Amendment is clear: The government cannot endorse religion. The Mayor failed in this aspect by appearing at an official event, and issuing such loaded religious proclamation. By his actions, Hayden has managed to now insult Flower Mound’s non-Christian residents, who should be represented by their Mayor in a fair and impartial manner.

As one commenter asked, "If he had declared it the year of the Koran would you be so happy or would you be up in arms?"

Mayor of Flower Mound declares 2014 Year of the Bible, raising q - Dallas News | myFOXdfw.com

See also:

Flower Mound mayor’s ‘Year of the Bible’ draws praise, criticism

While Hayden appreciates getting his message out, he said he plans to decline an invitation to appear on the nationally televised Fox & Friends talk show after the story was posted on Fox News.com.

“I didn’t do this to seek notoriety. I thought it would be a nice thing for the town,” he said. “The story is starting to be about Tom Hayden and not about the Bible. That was not my intention.”

On Thursday, the Anti-Defamation League called the proclamation religiously divisive and urged the mayor to reconsider his actions.

“As a public official, he has both a moral and legal duty to equally serve his constituents of all faiths or no faith. Regardless of his benign intent, the mayor’s action is highly inappropriate, not to mention likely unconstitutional,” according to the group’s prepared statement.