Coalition of Secular Voters

While doing some research for a recent blog post about a new bill that is intended to pave the way for allowing teachers to teach alternatives to evolution in the public schools in Florida I noticed that it is standard practice on the web pages of the Florida senators to list their religious affiliation. I haven't noticed this on the pages of other legislators, but I'm curious how common this is. I find is very odd, and a particular affront to the federal constitution's prohibition against religious tests, though in this case I don't believe that it applies since this is a state position, not a federal position.

Here is the Florida senate page listing of senators:

http://www.flsenate.gov/Legislators/index.cfm?Tab=legislators&CFID=69898166&CFTOKEN=44618565

By clicking on any person you can see that their religion is predominately displayed.

For example:

Biographical Information
Occupation:	Banking
Spouse:	Carole Funkhouser
Children:	Amy Leigh, John, Amanda, Courtney
Education:	University of Florida, B.A., Finance; MBA
Born:	April 8, 1958
Historical:	Great-grandfather, Napoleon B. Broward, served as Governor of Florida from 1905-1909
Religious  Affiliation:	Catholic
Recreation:	Reading Florida history

By the way, I also looked through every one of the listed senators and every single one had a religious affiliation listed. This despite the fact that roughly 20% of the American population has no religious affiliation.

Googling reveals it's done in other states as well, including Georgia, Louisiana, and possibly others.

http://www.google.com/search?q=state+senator+%22religious+affiliation%22

I wouldn't characterize it as a religious test, however, because presumably you could have "None" or "Church of Satan" or "Jedi" listed as your affiliation.

Interesting, I did assume that other states do it as well. I checked Colorado and it doesn't seem the be the case there, they just have completely lame web pages:

http://www.leg.state.co.us/Clics/CLICS2008A/directory.nsf/MIWeb?OpenForm&chamber=Senate

Maybe we could have a project where we grade each state on its overall "secularism" or whatever...

For practical purposes it probably is a religious test.  Leave it blank and you probably can't get elected, or re-elected.  I would be curious whether there are any unaffiliated legislators in any of the states where this is practiced - I doubt it.  If the intent or the effect is that this is a religious test for public office, it is actionable by any complainant who would step forward, but first that violation has to happen.

And it shouldn't matter that it's state vs. federal, as the constitution applies down to all levels of government, as established by some Supreme Court ruling(s) in the past.  In Estes Park, CO, Councilman David Habecker was recalled from office because he wouldn't stand to recite the religious pledge.  In this case, another council member took it upon herself to circulate a petition for a special election to recall him from office, which was exactly what happened.  Last I heard, he lost the case and it is on appeal.