CHURCH AND STATE

 

The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution prevents the government from making laws that regulate an establishment of religion, or that prohibit the free exercise of religion, or abridge the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, the freedom of assembly, or the right to petition the government for redress of grievances. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, as one of the ten amendments that constitute the Bill of Rights.

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.

Here is the first sentence of the Bill of Rights of The United States. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

This means Congress may not create an established church as in England, France, Spain and Germany. They did not want a Church of the United States, like a Church of England about which the colonists knew. They also did not want Congress to interfere with the practice of religion.

They did not want to restrict religion. They wanted to restrict church. They did not want an established church. Religion was not to be interfere with. Congress may not  prohibit the free exercise thereof; religion.

Putting a creche or a Menorah in a public place is not establishing a church. It is allowing the free expression of religion. Many people in this country have a religious bent. They are free to exercise it.

People are free to resent those symbols. They may be in poor taste. They may offend some. But, we should not have laws preventing such public displays of religion. Religion is here to stay.