Gov. Deal Orders Return of Bibles to Rooms at State Parks

Gov. Nathan Deal today instructed the state Department of Natural Resources to return Bibles to cabins and lodge rooms at state parks, according to the Office of the Governor.

The Governor made the decision to do so after consulting with Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens.

The Bibles were removed from the rooms of Georgia parks after a visitor complained, but were still available to guests at the front desk of these park facilities.

In a press release, Gov. Deal stated the following:

“Out of an abundance of caution to avoid potential litigation, the commissioner [Mark Williams, commissioner of DNR] removed the Bibles from rooms – though they were still available on site – after a complaint from a visitor.

The attorney general and I agree that the state is on firm legal footing as we move to return the Bibles to the rooms. These Bibles are donated by outside groups, not paid for by the state, and I do not believe that a Bible in a bedside table drawer constitutes a state establishment of religion. In fact, any religious group is free to donate literature.”  

Do you think Gov. Deal did the right thing by having the bibles put back into lodging rooms at state parks? Or is this a violation of separation of church and state? Tell us in the comments below.