Q&A Friday #9: Separation Of Church & State

by John Hawkins | January 7, 2005 9:10 pm

Question: “After reading about Newdow’s new anti-religious lawsuit plans I was inspired (not religiously so) with this question…

Does the establishment clause actually imply a separation of church and state or is the left yet again trying to trample the Constitution?” — Silverback

Answer: The “separation of church and state,” as it’s interpreted today, is not only wrong, it stands the First Amendment, which was designed to protect religious liberties, on its head. The First Amendment reads,

“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.

So, how does a judge putting the 10 commandments up on his courtroom wall equate to Congress establishing a religion? Who can believe that some kid singing “Away in a Manger” at an elementary school concert somehow means the Federal Government is declaring Christianity to be the state religion?

When the Founding Fathers were around, they studied the Bible in public schools and there were even official state religions. So, how is it that today we can try to claim that the Founding Fathers considered those things to be unconstitutional?

Separation of church and state, as it’s interpreted today has nothing to do with what the Founding Fathers intended and it has everything to do with liberal, anti-Christian, zealots who are twisting the Constitution in order to suit their own agenda.

You can read more about this topic here[1], in my interview with David Limbaugh.