Written by Don Byrd
[UPDATE 1/26/2016: A federal judge has ruled in favor of Ark Encounter that denial of the tax incentives is a violation of the First Amendment.]
Following concerns expressed by church-state advocates, Kentucky officials turned down the tax incentive request from a proposed theme park based on the biblical story of Noah’s Ark. The Ark Encounter, opponents warned, would discriminate in hiring based on religion.
The Louisville Courier-Journal reports:
[The state Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet] . . . said the park has evolved from a tourist attraction into an extension of the ministry activities undertaken by Answers in Genesis, which promotes a literal interpretation of the Bible’s old testament and argues that the Earth is only 6,000 years old.
“State tourism tax incentives cannot be used to fund religious indoctrination or otherwise be used to advance religion,” Tourism Secretary Bob Stewart wrote in the letter. “The use of state incentives in this way violates the separation of church and state provisions of the Constitution and is therefore impermissible.”
Answers in Genesis, the group behind the park proposal, plans to take legal action challenging the state’s decision, according to the report.
