Separation of Church and State?

Contact Your Elected Officials

The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment indicates that Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion. The Establishment Clause has been interpreted to mean that there is a separation of church and state. Establishment Clause (Separation of Church and State) – The Free Speech Center (mtsu.edu) Thomas Jefferson wrote that when the American public adopted the Establishment Clause, they built a separation of church and state. He believed that the state should not be involved in personal religious matters. While many in our society believe that there is a separation of church and state, in reality, this is an illusion. Historically, the church has played a major role in our politics. ย ย ย 

In recent years religion has impacted our society. Due to the Supreme Courtโ€™s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Health Care and Kennedy v. Bremerton School District religious liberties have increased.

Historically Christianity has influenced our politics. The Christian Quakers were early advocates of abolishing slavery. The Quakers opposed the slave trade and helped in abolishing slavery in Pennsylvania. Quakers and Slavery | TriCollege Libraries Digital Collections (brynmawr.edu) During the Civil War Abraham Lincoln shared the Quaker’s view that slavery is immoral.

Throughout the second half of the 20th century, Evangelist Billy Graham advised Presidents on various issues ranging from communism to inflation. Billy Graham on communism: “Satan’s religion” (1954) (alphahistory.com) Rev. Billy Graham had counseled US presidents since Truman – ABC News (go.com) Graham also opposed segregation. He and Martin Luther King Jr. were friends. He helped pay the late Civil Rights leaderโ€™s bail in 1960. What Is Billy Grahamโ€™s Friendship with Martin Luther King …… | News & Reporting | Christianity Today Graham as well as President Ronald Reagan inspired many Evangelical Christians. President Reagan was an advocate for free speech and the unborn. He also opposed homosexuality. The Christian Right grew, helping to elect George W. Bush. Bush, inspired by the Christian faith, prevented federal funding for research resulting in the destruction of human embryos. Fact Sheet: President Bush’s Stem Cell Research Policy (archives.gov)

Conservative Christiansโ€™ political influence reached its culmination with the election of Donald Trump. Trump promised to be an advocate for Christians by opposing abortion and supporting religious liberty. During Trump’s presidency, he helped appoint several conservative judges and justices. Supreme Court Justices Niel Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett, inspired by their Christian faith, voted to overturn Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Womenโ€™s Health Organization and voted to protect a coachโ€™s right to pray on the field with his players after a game in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District. Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022) | Wex Legal Dictionary / Encyclopedia | LII / Legal Information Institute (cornell.edu).

These Justices believed that life begins at conception thus they ruled to uphold Mississippiโ€™s 15-week abortion ban resulting in the overturning of Roe and permitting each state to determine whether abortion should be banned during the first trimester or not. Subsequently, Christian lawmakers from 13 states passed near-total bans on abortions. In Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, the court ruled that if a state subsidizes private education they are not allowed to disqualify private schools solely because they are religious. Similarly in Town of Greece v. Galloway, the court held that legislative prayer, while religious in nature, is permitted under the Establishment Clause. Religion Supreme Court Cases :: Justia U.S. Supreme Court Center

Overall politicians are making decisions based on their religious convictions. It is likely that religion will continue to play a major role in society. Church and state function side by side.

Works Cited

Ryman, Hana and Alcorn, Mark December 20, 2023 Establishment Clause (Separation of Church and State) Retrieved from Establishment Clause (Separation of Church and State) – The Free Speech Center (mtsu.edu)

December 22, 2023 TriCollege Libraries Digital Collections Retrieved from Quakers and Slavery | TriCollege Libraries Digital Collections (brynmawr.edu)

December 24, 2023 Billy Graham On Communism: โ€œSatanโ€™s Religionโ€ 1954 Retrieved from Billy Graham on communism: “Satan’s religion” (1954) (alphahistory.com)

Shellnut, Kate December 25, 2023 What Is Billy Grahamโ€™s Friendship with Martin Luther King Jr. Worth? What Is Billy Grahamโ€™s Friendship with Martin Luther King …… | News & Reporting | Christianity Today

December 26, 2023 Fact Sheet: President Bushโ€™s Stem Cell Research Policy Fact Sheet: President Bush’s Stem Cell Research Policy (archives.gov)

December 31, 2023 Dobbs v. Jackson Womenโ€™s Health Organization (2022) Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022) | Wex Legal Dictionary / Encyclopedia | LII / Legal Information Institute (cornell.edu)

December 24, 2023 Religion Supreme Court Cases Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022) | Wex Legal Dictionary / Encyclopedia | LII / Legal Information Institute (cornell.edu)

Edward Kennelly
Edward Kennelly
Edward Kennelly earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science at Mississippi University for Women. He is a graduate student at the Univ. of Memphis. He has worked in politics, and published several political opinion pieces appearing in the American Thinker, The Thinking Conservative, California News and Political View, and Citizens Journal.

Why Illinois Needs Trump NOW!

Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson told President Trump โ€œDonโ€™t come to Chicago!โ€ to reduce crime or to help clean up the trash in the city.

Donald Trumpโ€™s Appointments Are Being Obstructed

Donald Trump is the only President in history that has had recess appointments blocked by his own party!

Trump Flag-Burning Ban: Unconstitutional, Un-American, and Trifling

Trump signed an EO to criminalize the burning of the American flag โ€” the right to do which having already been adjudicated by the highest court in the land.

Using True Facts of History to Determine What is Right and What is Wrong

The amount of time separating a human act from a truthful description of it is not as important as the veracity of historians bringing it to light.

The Very British Stalemate: British Politics Explained for Americans

The assumption in the minds of American commentators, politicians, and analysts is that the UK has "gone to the dogs" with "woke" political ideology.

FDA Revokes Emergency Authorization for COVID-19 Vaccines

Federal regulators haveย revoked emergency authorization for COVID-19 vaccines, according to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Tehran Told European Powers Sanctions Would Have Consequences: Iranian Official

Iranian spokesman said delegation from Tehran told negotiators from UK, France, and Germany that triggering sanctions would have consequences.

Judge Accused of Helping Illegal Immigrant Evade Arrest Loses Bid to Drop Charges

Judge in Wisconsin turned down Milwaukee County Judge Duganโ€™s bid to dismiss her case, clearing way for a trial on charges she obstructed immigration officers.

19 Shot at Catholic Church in Minnesota: Officials

Two children were killed and 17 other people were injured at a Catholic church and school in Minneapolis on Aug. 27, officials said.

Trumpโ€™s 50 Percent Tariff on India Takes Effect

President Trumpโ€™s additional 25% tariff on India became effective at midnight on Aug. 27, bringing the total rate to 50% on many imports entering the US.

RFK Jr. Says HHS Will Disclose Causes of Autism in September

During a cabinet meeting Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. vowed to announce the causes of autism by September.

OMB Head: Trump Admin Eliminating 30 Old Regulations for Each New One

The Trump administration has repealed 30 regulations for each new regulation, Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought announced.

FDA Ramps Up Inspections of Shrimp Amid Radioactive Contamination Reports, RFK Jr. Confirms

Health Sec RFK, Jr. said federal health authorities are looking at imported shrimp after FDA issued warnings after potentially radioactive shrimp.
spot_img

Related Articles