DEAR EDITOR:
Once again Mr. McCormick has rewritten history to represent his
wishful thinking by alleging that Thomas Jefferson’s metaphor for
the First Amendment
”
wall of separation between church and state,
”
was the byproduct of a perverted legal system intent on
distorting the original intent of the founding fathers to create a
Christian theocratic government.
DEAR EDITOR:
Once again Mr. McCormick has rewritten history to represent his wishful thinking by alleging that Thomas Jefferson’s metaphor for the First Amendment “wall of separation between church and state,” was the byproduct of a perverted legal system intent on distorting the original intent of the founding fathers to create a Christian theocratic government. That’s an allegation he is unable to support with any form of factual augment.
The irony of it is that he was referring to Everson V. Board of Education, 1947 where Justice Hugo Black said “In the words of Jefferson, the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to exact ‘a wall of separation between church and state.’ ”
The United States was the first country in history to separate church and state. It was to this end that our Constitution has always represented the intent of the true founding fathers that is to maintain a secular government that guarantees religious liberty to all.
It has been pointed out that the First Amendment was intended only to keep Congress from making laws that limited religious freedom or interfere in the affairs of religions. Thereby allowing religion a free hand in government without being limited by law, but only if that intent or public act meets three constitutional requirements: a secular purpose; a primary effect that neither advances nor inhibits religion; does not result in excessive government entanglement with religion.
Another widely held misconception is that issues such as the term “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance, or prayers in public schools are prohibited thereby separating God from the people by government decree. This is a distortion of the facts. Government agencies, such as schools, must remain neutral on issues that would require students to affirm a religion, tradition or belief not their own. It is the requirement to participate, not the act in its self, that is a violation of the “established and free exercise clauses.”
Harold D. Williams, Gilroy
Submitted Friday, May 21
