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Issue date: 12/6/07 Section: Just on the Web

Mike LaFave

Separation of church and state is a phantom phrase. I've read the Constitution. I've read it from cover to cover several times. I have a little pocket size Constitution that I used to carry around with me wherever I went. That often quoted line is nowhere to be found within our founding document.

So, where did it come from you ask? Thomas Jefferson wrote it in a personal letter years after the ratification of the Constitution.

What the First Amendment to the Constitution does say is that congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise there of. And that line comes before the part about freedom of speech and everything else.

But let's take a second and really examine the first sentence in the Bill of Rights. Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion. Does that mean that religious symbols can't be displayed on government property? Doesn't sound like it to me. It is saying that the government doesn't have the right to set up or designate a national religion. The main reason our ancestors came to this land in the first place was to escape religious persecution. In America the individual is free to align him or herself with the religion of his or her own choosing, or none at all for that matter.

The second part of that very important sentence says that congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion. Does that mean that religion should only be practiced within the confines of your own home? Absolutely not. It means that I have the unalienable right to practice my religion as I see fit as long as I'm not endangering anyone around me.

Bottom line is, we have the freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion! If you're offended by people practicing their religion, too bad. Their right to freedom of religion outweighs your right not to be offended. Get over it!

Now, I'm sure everyone assumes that since I'm a conservative I must be extremely religious, that is the stereotype after all. But the truth is, I'm not. I believe in God and that's about as far as it goes. The last time I was in a church was when I took one of the UCP (Upstate Cerebral Palsy) clients to Temple. Before that, I believe I would have to go back to when I was prepubescent, when my dad used to strongly encourage I attend, if you know what I mean. Church isn't for me, I'm just not a religious guy. But I recognize the fact that lots of people are, and they have every right to be.

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