Concerns surround El Dorado County action on American Christian Heritage Month

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - When the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors declared July to be American Christian Heritage Month, it caught many by surprise and drew the attention of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), leaders of other religions, proponents of "Separation of Church and State."

“By issuing this proclamation advancing Christian nationalism and the debunked myth that we are a Christian nation, El Dorado County is ironically violating the country’s true heritage of religious liberty based on a secular government,” the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) said in response to the Board's actions.

The FFRF and ACLU have both sent letters to El Dorado County. Several community members spoke against it during the meeting where the proclamation was brought for a vote, as well as providing written comments.

"We are concerned that the Resolution conveys that the County supports, promotes and endorses specific religious beliefs and, as such, violates the California Constitution. Our state Constitution protects the rights of individuals to practice and promote their religion as they see fit and, at the same time, prevents the government from promoting a specific religion or religion in general," said the ACLU in a letter to the Board of Supervisors at the end of August.

Supervisor John Hidahl brought the proclamation before the board, and Supervisors Wendy Thomas and George Turnboo voted yes along with him during the vote taken at the July 18 meeting. Supervisor Lori Parlin voted against it.

Supervisor Brooke Laine who represents the Lake Tahoe side of the county, said she was caught off guard at how quickly the item came up for a vote and didn't speak against it, thinking she'd be called on for comment. Even though the minutes reflect a "yes" vote from her, the verbal "ayes" were actually Hidahl, Thomas, and Turnboo and she did not vote. A "no" from Laine wouldn't have changed the outcome but she is working to rectify the situation.

Laine has lost on other items she didn't agree with including the cancelation of bias training and removal of the invocation by clergy to start off each meeting. Her vote is often in the minority against a more conservative majority.

Since the July meeting, Laine said she has been talking to others about the proclamation, saying she'll do what she can to turn it around.

"I made a huge mistake, the worst vote in my career," said Laine of not voicing her disapproval. "I was caught off guard."

Laine hopes her other supervisors will decide to rescind the proclamation, but if they don't she is prepared to work to get it removed.

South Lake Tahoe local Marla Saunders started a petition to bring awareness to the proclamation and get support to have it reversed. She has over 650 signatures so far, including Laine's. For more information, visit HERE.

During the July meeting, it was noted that the following approved proclamation that Hidahl presented came from the Constitution Party, a political party that promotes a religious conservative view of the principles and intents of the United States Constitution.

PROCLAMATION of the Board of Supervisors of the County of El Dorado In Declaration of American Christian Heritage Month
WHEREAS, Religious faith was not only important in American life during the periods of discovery, exploration, colonization, and growth, but has also been acknowledged and incorporated into all three branches of American Federal Government from their very beginning; and
WHEREAS, The Supreme Court of the United States affirmed this self-evident fact in a unanimous ruling declaring "This is a religious people... From the discovery of this continent to the present hour, there is a single voice making this affirmation"; and
WHEREAS, The first act of America's first Congress in 1774 was to ask a minister to open with prayer and to lead Congress in the reading of four chapters of the Bible; and
WHEREAS, The Liberty Bell was named for the Biblical inscription from Leviticus 25:10, which passage of scripture is emblazoned around it: "Proclaim liberty throughout the land, to all the inhabitants thereof"; and
WHEREAS, The constitutions of each of the 50 states, either in the preamble or body, explicitly recognize or express gratitude to God; and
WHEREAS, President John F. Kennedy declared that "The rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God"; and
WHEREAS, All sessions of the United States Supreme Court begin with the Court's Marshal announcing, "God save the United States and this honorable court"; and
WHEREAS, When taking the oath of office for the President of the United States, George Washington concluded the oath by adding the phrase, "So help me, God," and this has been included in many oaths by those taking public office since that time; and
WHEREAS, There have been attempts to change and distort our history;
THEREFORE, BE IT BE PROCLAIMED, That the month of July each year is designated as "American Christian History Month," to recognize the impact of religious beliefs on America's history; and be it further
PROCLAIMED, That the rich spiritual and diverse religious history of our nation, from its founding to the current day be affirmed; and be it further
PROCLAIMED, That any effort to remove, obscure, or purposely omit such history from our nation's public buildings and educational resources be rejected in the strongest manner.

Passed by the Board of Supervisors of the County of El Dorado at a regular meeting of said Board, held this 18th day of July 2023.