The Separation Of Church And State

Bill of Rights

Amendment I (1796)

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

Our founding fathers used language that was easily understood. Those words seem sensible to most of us, the government shouldn't start or support any religion, nor should it prevent the exercise of any religion by it's citizens. Shrewd legal minds have twisted these words to justify removing the 10 commandments displays from all of our public buildings, remove prayer from our schools, and threaten our ministers with taxation if they mention anything political from the pulpit. They have used the so called separation principle to justify attacking the religion of the majority of Americans on all fronts.

When the constitution was written there was not unanimous support for it by the states. The "Federalist Papers" were written to explain the workings of the constitution to the states, in order that they might be convinced to ratify the constitution. These papers are quoted in some matters of constitutional law.

The Separation of Church and State, Thomas Jefferson's Reply

The documents quoted in the doctrine of separation of church and state are letters by Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Connecticut baptist congregation,

To messers. Nehemiah Dodge, Ephraim Robbins, & Stephen S. Nelson, a committee of the Danbury Baptist association in the state of Connecticut.

Gentlemen

The affectionate sentiments of esteem and approbation which you are so good as to express towards me, on behalf of the Danbury Baptist association, give me the highest satisfaction. my duties dictate a faithful and zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, & in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more and more pleasing.

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.

I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection & blessing of the common father and creator of man, and tender you for yourselves & your religious association, assurances of my high respect & esteem.

Th Jefferson
Jan. 1. 1802.

What Did The Danville Baptist Want From Jhomas Jefferson?

Well that sounds pretty much like the text of Amendment 1, doesn't it? It also raises the question; what did this church ask of Thomas Jefferson? They wrote him and said that as the constitution was not specific as regards religion, and that as the Magna Carta was a part of the constitution they were concerned about the possibility of religious persecution, such as they were subject to in England. They did not mention the Magna Carta by name, but referred to it as our "ancient charter".

Thomas Jefferson sought to reassure them by mentioning Amendment I of the Bill Of Rights, which was designed to prevent the state from founding a state religion, or from giving any single religion preferential treatment. Amendment I says the state will not interfere with religion. It was not intended to be used as a tool to dismantle the very religions it was designed to protect.

Supreme Court Decisions Involving This Issue

There have been 13 rulings by the supreme court on this issue. That is the danger in selecting Supreme Court Justices, and other federal judges, based on their support for any particular political agenda. While they may support one specific political agenda, they may not support the constitution of the United States. We citizens depend on the impartiality of the Supreme Court, the last bulwark of freedom. When it is skewed left or right for the favor of any political party we all lose. The primary question to be determined of any person appointed to this court should be; "Will you faithfully defend the constitution of the United States?" Congress should do their very best to assure that the person selected will do exactly that. Political agendas must be removed from the selection process.

Since those Supreme Court Decisions were pased, this separation principle has been used to remove prayer, and the pledge of allegiance, from our schools, and all instances of the display of the Ten Commandments from our public buildings. It has been used to intimidate our ministers, threatening them with loss of their churches tax free status if they make political comments from the pulpit. Yet, in most parts of the country our churches are polling places where people cast their votes in elections. They have been gathering places for political discussion since the nation was founded.