FFRF Action Fund names the superintendent of Norman (Okla.) public schools its “Secularist of the Week” for standing up against the unconstitutional bibles-in-schools mandate from Oklahoma’s state superintendent. Conversely, a U.S. senator has become the “Theocrat of the Week” for the third time after championing Christian nationalism during a speech in early July.
While speaking at the fourth annual National Conservatism Conference last week, Sen. Josh Hawley unapologetically declared, “Some will say now that I am calling America a Christian Nation. And so I am. And some will say that I am advocating Christian nationalism. And so I do.”
Hawley added, “Christian nationalism founded American democracy. The Christian political tradition is our political tradition.” Hawley went on to suggest: “Why don’t we take down the trans flag from all the federal buildings from which it’s flying, and instead, inscribe on every federal building our national motto: In God We Trust?”
Hawley also lamented the GOP platform for supposedly moving away from various extremist policies, complaining that “Republicans are threatening to drop from the platform the party’s commitment to life and marriage.” Hawley is staunchly anti-abortion, and so is his wife, who recently argued before the Supreme Court to ban or limit mifepristone.
In subsequently defending his remarks, Hawley insisted: “It is a fact of history and not open to debate, a fact that we were founded by Christian believers and that our fundamental ideals including those in the Constitution of the United States, Declaration of Independence, and Bill of Rights all come to us from a Christian tradition. That is just a fact and I think that’s something worth preserving.”
Hawley has long held Christian nationalist beliefs and has previously reiterated the calls for revolution made by Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation behind Project 2025. In a troubling piece for the Christian publication First Things, Hawley suggested violence in the name of God is acceptable: “Should the authorities break the terms of God’s delegation of governance and assault the people’s freedoms, then the people had a right to defend themselves, even to rebel.”
FFRF Action Fund had named Hawley “Theocrat of the Week” in July 2023 for posting a fake Christian nationalist quote claiming that the United States was founded by Christians and “the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” Hawley was once again pronounced “Theocrat” earlier this year for publishing his Christian nationalist manifesto in First Things. The Freedom From Religion Foundation, the c(3) arm of FFRF Action Fund, called for Hawley’s resignation after he infamously held up his fist in a sign of support as mobs assembled at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Our “Secularist of the Week” meanwhile is laudably resisting Christian nationalists. After Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, another habitual “Theocrat,” mandated this month that bibles must be present and taught in every public school classroom, Norman Public Schools Superintendent Nick Migliorino publicly refused to adhere to the unconstitutional mandate. He told the Norman Transcript that his schools will not take part in the mandate.
“Norman Public Schools is not going to have bibles in our classrooms,” he announced, “and we are not going to require our teachers to teach from the bible. The standards are clear and our curriculum is very clear. And we’re not going to deviate from that.”
“We’re gonna follow the law, we’re going to provide a great opportunity for our students, we’re going to do right by our students and right by our teachers, and we’re not going to have bibles in our classrooms,” Migliorino continued. He noted that bibles will be available for the students who want to check them out and that teachers will be able to use them while teaching in appropriate and relevant settings, but Norman Public Schools will not require bibles to be in classrooms.
It’s refreshing to see multiple state representatives representing Norman in the Oklahoma House come out in support of Migliorino, including a previous “Secularist of the Week.” Oklahoma state Rep. Jacob Rosecrants issued a statement saying, “I’m proud of Norman Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Nick Migliorino, for standing up for local control and common sense, and I fully expect other public school districts to do the same. The Constitution is on their side.”
FFRF Action Fund joins Rosecrants in firm support of Migliorino. Allies like Migliorino who are committed to the First Amendment’s freedom of conscience are desperately needed as Christian nationalists such as Walters and Hawley try to force their theology on Oklahoma and the rest of the nation.
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.