Originally posted by BOFH:
I have read the constitution, so again, I ask my question, where in the constitution does the phrase "separation of church and state" appear?
You may have read the Constitution but apparently still have no understanding as to what a constitiution is or how it works.
Originally posted by BOFH:
Now you are back pedaling and citing interpretations of the constitution by courts as well as quoting a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote.
I didn't realize that private letters by presidents automatically became law. We should alert CNN and let President Bush know that asking congress to submit a bill is overkill, he needs only to write a letter.
OK, I hope you're kidding here. Do you have any idea who Thomas Jefferson is or why he is even relevant to this topic? Didn't your high school require some sort of history course? I'll give you a hint. There is a very good reason why judges will cite to Jefferson's writings when dealing with Constitutional interpretation, but that they will never do so concerning modern presidents.
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Originally posted by BOFH:
I see nothing in this that prevents the president or any elected official from holding religious beliefs or promoting policy based on those beliefs. They simply cannot hand government cash to churches or other religious organizations.
The Constitution does not prevent any elected official from holding religious beliefs. Any law that attempted to prevent any elected official from holding releigious beliefs would be struck down as being blatantly unconstitutional. Enacting or attempting to enact any law which had as its primary purpose the promotion of religion or religious policy would also be immediately struck down as a clear violation of the 1st Amendment.
Last edited by 96RedSE5Sp; 07/31/04 11:42 PM.
