FFRF Action Fund’s “Secularist of the Week” is an openly humanist Delaware state legislator who has led a nearly decade-long battle to get his “death with dignity” bill passed. In contrast, this week’s “Theocrat” is an extremist, Christian nationalist candidate for North Carolina’s superintendent of public instruction who’s a “Ryan Walters wannabe.”
Michele Morrow is on the ballot for North Carolina’s state superintendent general election, despite a history of divisive, dangerous statements. At the Republican National Convention in July, Morrow was caught on a secretly recorded audio recording saying that North Carolina needs to get “bible classes back in every” state public school. In the interview, released last week by American Bridge 21st Century, a group affiliated with the Democratic Party, Morrow brought up Oklahoma’s notorious Christian nationalist state Superintendent, Ryan Walters, a frequent opponent of FFRF who is trying to mandate that all teachers incorporate the bible into their curriculum. Walters has even reached out to her campaign and she recently met him in person: “I absolutely believe that we need to get elective bible classes back in every middle and high school—in our schools.”
Morrow is no stranger to extremism. Back in 2021, Morrow called for then-President Trump to push “the Constitution to the side” and invoke military force to stay in power on Jan. 6, 2021. According to CNN, this loose cannon has frequently suggested executing prominent Democrats, including former President Obama and President Biden. In May 2020, she tweeted about Obama: “I prefer a Pay Per View of him in front of the firing squad. We could make some money back from televising his death.” Morrow has continually spread false claims and QAnon conspiracy theories and wants to abolish the state Board of Education, thereby putting the GOP-led Legislature and superintendent in control of the school system, curricula and policies. She, unfortunately, has more than earned our “Theocrat of the Week” moniker.
In a more encouraging political development, this week’s “Secularist” is a Delaware state representative who’s very close to seeing his hard-fought “death with dignity” bill signed into law. Delaware state Rep. Paul S. Baumbach, representing the state’s 23rd District, has led the charge to advocate for legislation implementing medical aid in dying in Delaware. HB 140 would allow terminally ill patients to end their lives on their own terms and strengthen compassionate end-of-life options in the state. The bill would apply to adult Delaware residents with a prognosis of six or fewer months to live who are capable of making informed decisions and are acting out of their own volition, along with other strict medical safeguards. Delaware will hopefully join the 10 other states that have medical-aid-in-dying laws. Most states have yet to adopt such rights despite a recent Gallup poll showing that a majority of Americans support inclusive, compassionate end-of-life options. Much of the opposition comes from the Catholic Church and other religious objectors.
Persistence has paid off for Baumbach, who first proposed medical-aid-in-dying legislation in 2015. This is the first year his bill made it to a floor vote, passing in the House by 21-16 and the Senate by 11-10. The bill awaits the signature of Democratic Gov. John Carney. If Carney does nothing, the bill will become law automatically.
Congratulations to Baumbach for his tireless work to enact medical aid in dying in Delaware. Baumbach, who self-identifies as a “Unitarian Universalist humanist,” recently announced his retirement. His tenure as a humanist state representative will have a lasting, positive legacy.
FFRF Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) organization that develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church. It also advocates for the rights and views of nonbelievers, endorses candidates for political office, and publicizes the views of elected officials concerning religious liberty issues.