UPDATE::Bill to name the Bible as Louisiana's official state book advances to House floor for debate - Daily Journal

You can't adopt the Bible and not adopt Christianity ~ Rep. Wesley Bishop, D-New Orleans

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Lawmakers are moving ahead with a proposal to name the Bible as Louisiana's official state book, despite concerns the bill would land the Legislature in court.

A House municipal committee advanced the bill Thursday with an 8-5 vote, sending it to the full House for debate.

Rep. Thomas Carmody, R-Shreveport, said he sponsored the proposal after a constituent made the request. But Carmody insisted the bill wasn't designed to be a state-endorsement of Christianity or a specific religion.

"It's not to the exclusion of anyone else's sacred literature," he told the House committee. Again, later he said, "This is not about establishing an official religion of the state of Louisiana."

Bill to name the Bible as Louisiana's official state book advances to House floor for debate - Daily Journal