On Wed, 25 Dec 2013 20:58:01 -0500 "Scott Ritchey" <ritche...@nc.rr.com> wrote:
> The first amendment actually says "Congress shall make no law > respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free > exercise thereof;..." > > As I read it, prohibiting the free exercise of religion, even in a > public space, is just as unconstitutional. Coupled with the 9th and > 10th amendments, it even seems the several states could make such laws > if they chose. Those who want to restrict public expression of Christianity conveniently ignore the second phrase, just like the current administration is conveniently ignoring parts of the Affordable (ahem) Care Act they so stridently say is the "law of the land" whenever they want to, and that without involvement of the Congress -- lawless acts for which they should be called on the carpet. > "Separation of church and state" is grade-school shorthand for the > actual words, a phrase now overused by too many people who should (and > probably do) know better. Nowhere do the words "separation of church and state" appear in any of our founding documents. They actually appear in a letter Jefferson, I think it was, wrote to the Danbury Baptists, who were concerned about the new government interferring in their internal affairs. Jefferson said that would not be possible because of the "wall of separation of the church and the state" that kept the government from messing with churches. It's amazing how in 200+ years since how that has been stood on its head. > Judges interpret the implementation of these words but there is no > guarantee that the judges are right or that future judges will agree > with their predecessors. For example, Dred Scott. The current interpretation only started in the 1940s. When one of the nine justices brought it forth, others complained about it and said that it should not be presented because if it were spoken of so much, people might start to believe it was the truth. And now here we are. Craig _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
