Posted by
Jason Cunningham on Tuesday, December 23, 2008 2:27:42 AM
I want to commend the Los Angeles Times for declaring that "opponents of Colorado's plan for a day of prayer take a too-rigid view of church-state separation" (12/22 editorial). Unfortunately, though, the Times fails to go far enough in its declaration, displaying its own "too-rigid view of church-state separation."
The Times editorial begins thus: "Like Thomas Jefferson, we believe that the 1st Amendment to the Constitution erects a 'wall of separation' between church and state. Government punches through that wall when it requires official prayers in public schools or bestows tax dollars on churches -- or when it tries to prevent believers from practicing their faith."
The Times couldn't be much more wrong; other than the last phrase in that statement, the Times gets a big fat F- in American history.
Though Mr. Jefferson did indeed -- in a letter, not in any founding document -- advocate for a "wall of separation" between church and state, today's notion of that principle is much different from its original form. In contrast to today's liberal interpretation, which argues that government and religion can't even make eye contact with each other, the religion clauses of the First Amendment were simply meant to ensure two things: 1.) that the government won't establish an official religion that people would be forced to follow, and 2.) government can't stop anyone from worshiping as they see fit. That's it; that's all. Thus: Does the displaying of a Nativity scene on city property constitute a First Amendment violation? No, because it neither forces anyone to follow a certain religion nor prevents anyone from following a certain religion. And does school prayer constitute a First Amendment violation? No, because it neither forces anyone to follow a certain religion nor prevents anyone from following a certain religion.
In case there's any doubt about this -- which I know there is -- some basic American history ought to make it clear: The federal government under President Thomas Jefferson authorized funds for the construction of a Catholic church as part of a mission to reach Native Americans with the Gospel, and also authorized funds to pay for a priest. How's that for church-state separation?