NASSAU COUNTY CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC.
"The government is us, we are the government, you and I." Teddy Roosevelt
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NASSAU COUNTY CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC. "The government is us, we are the government, you and I." Teddy Roosevelt |
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December 7, 2004
The Constitution and Religious Liberty
Have we forgotten God and common sense?
We hold these truths self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness…”. The document that contained these words was deemed a violation of church and state by the Creek Elementary School in Cupertino, California and was recently banned from the class room. The name of this document is The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. Is this what the founding fathers had in mind?
"It is impossible for the man of pious reflection not to perceive in it [The Constitution] a finger of that almighty hand which has been so frequently and signally extended to our relief in the critical stages of the revolution." -- James Madison, Federalist. 37, January 11, 1788
The first amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…..” No where is separation of church and state mentioned in this amendment or the constitution yet it is cited as the basis for expunging any reference to God. While Thomas Jefferson referred to “A wall of separation between church and state” in his letter to the Danbury Connecticut Baptist Association in 1802, he was referring to his opposition to a national religion created by government as was the case in England. The Church of England dictated how the people could worship. The puritans or separatists left England for the new world seeking freedom of religion not to separate the people from religion.
"I consider the government of the United States as interdicted by the Constitution from intermeddling with religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline, or exercises. This results not only from the provision that no law shall be made respecting the establishment or free exercise of religion, but from that also which reserves to the States the powers not delegated to the United States. Certainly, no power to prescribe any religious exercise or to assume authority in any religious discipline has been delegated to the General government. It must then rest with the states."-- Thomas Jefferson, letter to Samuel Miller, January 23, 1808
Many state constitutions have references to God and many states even provided tax dollars to various churches. While not supporting a national religion, the states did support a belief in God and religious freedom versus secularism and hostility toward religion. Beginning in the 1960’s, the forces of secularism began their campaign to remove God from the public square by utilizing unelected activist judges instead of winning at the ballot box through the use of legislatures.
"And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep forever."
--Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia, Query 18, 1781
One group that has willfully misinterpreted the constitution and the intent of the founding fathers is the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). They believe in your right to worship as long as you remain silent. They believe in tolerance for all views except those that express a belief in God.
The ACLU filed a lawsuit against the City of Chicago and the Department of Defense alleging that both are engaging in religious discrimination by supporting the Boy Scouts as the Boy Scouts require their members to believe in God. In November of this year, the Pentagon warned military commanders not to officially sponsor the Scout units. The suit continues as the ACLU seeks to ban the scouts from all military bases and all government facilities. Senator Ben Nelson of Florida has indicated that the Boy Scouts are still welcome on military bases and he indicated his support of legislation in the next Defense appropriations bill to make supporting the scouts as a matter of law. This is in contrast to their suit in Virginia seeking to overturn a new state law that forbids teens and preteens from attending a nudist camp unless a parent or guardian is present. The ACLU actually alleged that the children’s right to privacy was violated. The suit was dismissed on August yet the ACLU vowed to appeal.
"One single object… [will merit] the endless gratitude of the society: that of restraining the judges from usurping legislation."
--Thomas Jefferson Letter to Edward Livingston, March 25, 1825.
The ACLU has continued its campaign of tyranny and hostility toward God and those of faith. Recently, the ACLU filed a lawsuit in Cranston Rhode Island challenging the display of a Nativity scene. As the City of Cranston was not officially endorsing religion, all holiday displays were welcome, and secular symbols of Christmas were included, the suit was dismissed. Even when the ACLU loses in court, it continues to send threatening letters to municipalities and local governments. Their actions help foster fear and ignorance among those in government which often lead to religious discrimination. What liberty are they defending?
Without God, there is no virtue, because there's no prompting of the
conscience. Without God, we're mired in the material, that flat world that tells
us only what the senses perceive. Without God, there is a coarsening of
the society. And without God, democracy will not and cannot long endure.
If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone
under. If I could just make a personal statement of my own -- in these 3 1/2
years I have understood and known better than ever before the words of Lincoln,
when he said that he would be the greatest fool on this footstool called Earth
if he ever thought that for one moment he could perform the duties of that
office without help from One who is stronger than all.
-- President Ronald Reagan
In November, the South Orange/Maplewood school district in New Jersey decided to ban all Christmas songs at holiday concerts. The reason noted was that some parents were offended. As Christmas carols do not endorse a particular religion, the effort to single out particular songs that make reference to God are unlawful and show the hostility to those of faith. Last year, the Bellmore school district on Long Island removed the federal holiday of Christmas from the calendar while including Yom Kippur. When this matter was brought to the attention of the local school board with the request to restore the federal holiday and include Easter and Jewish holidays, the board refused and instead restored Christmas.
"Our coins bear the words 'In God We Trust'. We take the oath of office asking His help in keeping that oath. And we proclaim that we are a nation under God when we pledge allegiance to the flag. But we can't mention His name in a public school or even sing religious hymns that are nondenominational. Christmas can be celebrated in the school room with pine trees; tinsel and reindeers, but there must be no mention of the man whose birthday is being celebrated. One wonders how a teacher would answer if a student asked why it was called Christmas."-- President Ronald Reagan
Religious Liberty- The View from the Founding
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