Embedded in the North Carolina Constitution are these deeply unfortunate words: “The following persons shall be disqualified for office: First, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God.”
This bit of law goes unenforced and would clearly be overruled by the U.S. Constitution if challenged in court. The importance of this bit of medieval thinking enshrined in North Carolina’s highest law is symbolic more than anything. Nonetheless, it should be wiped from North Carolina’s constitution before a court forces the issue — embarrassing the state once again.
There are certainly more urgent issues facing North Carolina’s General Assembly. The legislature has made more than its fair share of blunders, and the state’s reputation has been severely damaged as a result.
A heavily Republican state legislature was swept into Raleigh on promises of improving North Carolina’s economy. To ensure a robust economy, North Carolina must attract business.
Making the state a national punch line is not the best way to do so.
The stakes for the Almighty God clause are not high. Addressing the myriad other problems of North Carolina should be higher on the legislature’s list of priorities.
But symbols matter. And a good step toward reversing North Carolina’s lot as a national laughingstock would be to update its constitution so it is in line with the standards of our times — or at least with those of 1789, the year our country’s Bill of Rights was sent to the states for approval.
