Tom Riner

Tom Riner (born October 7, 1946) is a former Democratic member of the Kentucky House of Representatives who represented the 41st District. Considered as part of the moral compass of the Kentucky House of Representatives, Tom Riner used his own grounded beliefs to be a conscious voice of ethical leadership and deliver guidance to fellow lawmakers of the Kentucky House. As the New York Times once wrote regarding Tom's stance of political discourse, "He looks for God everywhere, and in places he does not find him, he tries to put him there." [1]

Tom Riner
Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
from the 41st district
In office
1982–2017
Succeeded byAttica Scott
Personal details
Born (1946-10-07) October 7, 1946
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materCentre College
OccupationMinister

During his career, many social leaders and political thinkers from both sides of the political aisle engaged his theories and relied on his voice to tackle extremely difficult issues. Tom Riner's relaxed demeanor and constant, vivid focus on moral issues has taken him throughout the world. Now, as a retired member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, Tom is still uniquely considered to be a voice of criticism and, for many, he is viewed as larger than life, offering ideas and inspiration that promote change for leading Christian political theorists and social critics.

Disputed statute

In 2006, Riner sponsored a Kentucky law which could subject a staff member of Kentucky Homeland Security to a Class A Misdemeanor (carrying a 12-month prison sentence) if he or she fails to affirm the existence of an almighty God.[2] The Kentucky Supreme Court has refused to review the constitutionality of the law,[3] though a dissenting opinion was recorded by Judge Ann O'Malley, stating that while the organization "American Atheists lacked standing based on its claim for damages," statute KRS 39A.285 nonetheless "places an affirmative duty to rely on Almighty God for the protection of the Commonwealth,"[4] which would put it in contention with the Lemon Test.

The bill became law in 2008.[5] American Atheists have asked the US Supreme court to review the constitutionality of the law.[6]

References
  1. Urbina, Ian (2009). "Lawmaker in Kentucky Mixes Piety and Politics". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
  2. Laura Gottesdiener: A Year in Jail for Not Believing in God? How Kentucky Is Persecuting Atheists. In: Alternet. November 21, 2012
  3. With friends like Caesar, the church doesn't need enemies
  4. SHAKE, Senior Judge, Concurs in Part and Dissents in Part and Files Separate Opinion
  5. Atheists can be jailed in Kentucky for not acknowledging God
  6. American Atheists ask U.S. Supreme Court to Reverse Kentucky Law Requiring Belief in "Almighty God."


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