Could the Bible Become the Official Book of This State?

In what could set off another church-state debate, the Louisiana state legislature is considering making the Bible the official state book of the Pelican State.

Louisiana state Rep. Thomas Carmody, a Republican representing the Shreveport area, introduced the legislation, but it wouldn’t be just any Bible.

“The official state book shall be the Holy Bible, published by Johannes Prevel, (Prevel, Jean, active 1510-1528, printer. & Petit, Jean, fl. 1492-1530.), which is the oldest edition of the Holy Bible in the Louisiana State Museum system,” the legislation says.

This is the oldest edition of the Bible in the state, and is already on display at the Louisiana State Museum. The publisher, Johannes Pravel, worked as a printer in the state from 1510 to 1528.

The legislation also proposes that the state’s motto – following the tradition of the state pledge of allegiance – be changed to read: “A state, under God, united in purpose and ideals, confident that justice shall prevail for all of those abiding here.”

The Louisiana state legislative session begins March 10.

(H/T The Times Picayune