Why should Amy Coney Barrett’s friendships or her religious affiliation be considered in a U.S. Supreme Court case?
Nicole Stelle Garnett, now a law professor at the University of Notre Dame, is about to have her own supreme court moment.
On 30 April, the court will consider a legal question that has defined her career: can explicitly religious organizations operate charter schools? At the center of the dispute is St Isidore of Seville Catholic virtual school, an online school in Oklahoma that planned to serve about 200 students this year before the state supreme court ruled the decision to approve it violated the constitutional provision separating church and state.
In a word search of the U.S. Constitution, the word ‘state’ appears 137 times; the word ‘church’ is not to be found.
A search for the word religious appears only ONCE in Article VI. The Constitution stipulates:
- no religious test of either federal or state officeholders.
- all are bound by Oath or Affirmation to support the Constitution
The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.
The First Amendment to the Constitution states:
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.
What is the source of the phrase separation of church and state? Atheists use the phrase out of context. It originated from a letter from Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Association on January 1, 1802. Jefferson explained the text of the First Amendment. He wrote:
Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should “make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” thus building a wall of separation between Church & State.
The Declaration of Independence embodies the principles upon which the Constitution was constructed. In modern housebuilding parlance, the Declaration of Independence is the slab and the Constitution is the framework. The Declaration of Independence prominently asserts, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.“
Thomas Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. The document acknowledges God, our Creator, as the guarantor of our unalienable Rights.
The First Amendment states, “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.
Atheists promote the false notion our nation was founded as a secular society. It was not so founded and the official documents plainly prove this fact. Our Constitutional Republic was not founded to create an official religion or to deny us freedom of worship.
Many people are surprised to learn that the United States Capitol regularly served as a church building. This practice began even before Congress officially moved into the building. It lasted until well after the Civil War.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled in error. That court violated Article VI of the Constitution. while also infringing on the First Amendment protection of the free exercise of religion.
John White
Rockwall, Texas
John N. White 
Do you consider there is an ethical obligation upon any individual or institution that wishes to promote an ideology built upon a foundation of faith to present evidence to demonstrate the veracity of the claims made by said individual /, institution, especially when such ideology is presented as fact and inculcated into children and those who may not have the ability to exercise critical thinking?
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The text of the Constitution is so simple to read and understand, a fifth grade student can read it and explain the meanings of the text.
The Constitution is a simple, compact document that easily slides into one’s pocket.
Anyone can promote their ideology, regardless the merit of the ideology.
We all enjoy freedoms ensconced in the First Amendment. Opinions are like noses: everybody has one. Our freedom to readily express our opinions enables competing opinions to test our own. This is the meaning of the phrase “the free exercise thereof.”
I hope you find this helpful and thank you for your comment.
The text of the First Amendment:
“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.”
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I am aware of the First.
My question still stands.
Please would you at least answer it, unless you have a reason not to?
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You obviously wanted a short answer. No.
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Thank you. So, as Christian you are perfectly at home with unethical behaviour, especially toward children.
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As Blaise Pascal observed, “Faith affirms many things, respecting which the senses are silent, but nothing that they deny. It is superior, but never opposed to their testimony.”
I am having some difficulty discerning the objective of your comments.
Are you a child molester seeking affirmation?
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Ooh… Nasty!
In fact, I merely needed your confirmation that you are okay with the unethical practice of indoctrinating children with the filth / nonsense of Christianity. That confirmation you willingly obliged.
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I most certainly disapprove of your indoctrination of children with transgenderism, hedonism, and homosexuality.
Your statements strongly indicate you are a homosexual. Correct or not?
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Well, at least you did not deny that Christianity is indoctrinated into children, and you have already confirmed you have no qualms about how unethical this is.
But please tell me, what on earth about my comment suggested I am homosexual or I indoctrinated any child with anything?
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You are a homosexual. Homosexuality is practical atheism. An atheist tends to believe he or she can survive the consequences of death by attacking the followers of Jesus Christ. The dying experience for such is a frightening experience. I know. I have been with dying atheists. Witnessing the torment saddens me.
We were present with my wife’s uncle as he slowly died in agony.
A nephew in Dallas is the “wife” in his unholy homosexual “marriage.” His father is now an elderly man requiring assistance with everything, but his nearby son refuses to help.
Until your last breath, you have opportunity to call on the Name of the Lord. He forgives all sins except blasphemy of His Holy Spirit.
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Hilarious. This is probably the wackiest thing I have read in a very long time.
In fact, I am beginning to wonder if you are simply taking the piss? Or perhaps this is projection on your part? Those who are overtly anti-gay tend to hide their latent homosexuality by attacking the very thing they are.( You also raised the issue of pedophilia for some very strange and disconcerting reason, which begs another question.)
If this is not the case, your comments come across as from someone who may well be somewhat mentally unstable.
I am willing to offer the benefit of the doubt this is not necessarily the case. However, I am truly interested what on earth about ANYTHING I have written even remotely suggests I am gay?
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Projection is an action by tyrants and criminals. You are projecting your worldview and values on others.
You have not denied you are a homosexual.
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You are projecting to yourself. Your questions are not questions in search of truth. Your questions do not seek answers. They are statements punctuated by question marks. Your remarks clearly indicate you are an atheist and a homosexual. Homosexuality is one facet of atheism, a denial of reality. You were born to a mother (female) and a father (male). You have neither two moms nor two dads.
People become homosexual through seduction by “the father of lies.” Fortunately for those who yield to the grace of God, such realize their natural (God given) nature and enjoy peace with God, family, and forgiveness.
The opportunity to turn from homosexuality ends with your last breath.
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I suggest you seek the mind of Christ, the will of God. Your projection simply falls back on yourself.
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Thank you for including references to my posts. Regardless your mindset, doing so increases my readership.
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When addressed by someone seeking the truth of a matter, my willingness to engage such a person in meaningful conversation is limitless.
When attacked by an atheist, in particular an atheistic homosexual, a confirmed homosexual, meaningful arguments are one-sided and are meaningless. In fact, in the definition of the word ‘argument’ it is impossible to discuss different points of view.
Avowed atheists, this is to say, demonstrable atheists, are incapable of the process of reasoning for or against a point. I suppose you are one of his followers who answered his call to attack me. Over my lengthy lifetime I have known many intransigent homosexuals. I have also known homosexuals who turned from their abominable—God’s description—practice, exchanging an unnatural lifestyle for a wholesome lifestyle.
There are two gods, the God of Creation, and the god of this world, Satan. The former gives eternal life; the former eternal suffering.
As it is written in 2 Corinthians 4:4, “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.”
Leviticus 18:22 warns, “Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin.”
The God of Creation rewards His adopted sons and daughters eternal life with Him. The verb adopt means chosen.
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