Comments on: O’Donnell has question on U.S. Constitution – where does it say separation of church and state? http://blogs.reuters.com/talesfromthetrail/2010/10/19/odonnell-has-question-on-u-s-constitution-where-does-it-say-separation-of-church-and-state/ Tracking U.S. politics Fri, 24 May 2013 16:27:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: sgrddy http://blogs.reuters.com/talesfromthetrail/2010/10/19/odonnell-has-question-on-u-s-constitution-where-does-it-say-separation-of-church-and-state/comment-page-1/#comment-410940 sgrddy Wed, 20 Oct 2010 22:15:06 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/?p=30764#comment-410940 @P_Taegel Well, I'm sure that your students know that there are less than 57 states, but that didn't stop President Obama from getting elected. Do your students think that the "free exercise thereof" includes letting some high school kid say a prayer at graduation or before a football game? What do they think about Amendments 9 and 10, and how they relate to Article I Section 8? If anything can fall under "interstate commerce", then why delineate the powers of Congress at all? I'm just curious really. Ms. O'Donnell is probably not a constitutional scholar. She probably does understand what liberty is though. @P_Taegel
Well, I’m sure that your students know that there are less than 57 states, but that didn’t stop President Obama from getting elected.
Do your students think that the “free exercise thereof” includes letting some high school kid say a prayer at graduation or before a football game? What do they think about Amendments 9 and 10, and how they relate to Article I Section 8? If anything can fall under “interstate commerce”, then why delineate the powers of Congress at all? I’m just curious really.
Ms. O’Donnell is probably not a constitutional scholar. She probably does understand what liberty is though.

]]> By: P_Taegel http://blogs.reuters.com/talesfromthetrail/2010/10/19/odonnell-has-question-on-u-s-constitution-where-does-it-say-separation-of-church-and-state/comment-page-1/#comment-410924 P_Taegel Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:23:28 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/?p=30764#comment-410924 The real issue here is that O'Donnell does not even have the familiarity with the Constitution that most public school educations ought to provide. I teach writing to elementary school kids, and THEY know about the first amendment. In fact, they can recite for you the entire Bill of Rights. Of course, it is a gifted program. Perhaps that's too high a standard to be holding Ms. O'Donnell. The real issue here is that O’Donnell does not even have the familiarity with the Constitution that most public school educations ought to provide. I teach writing to elementary school kids, and THEY know about the first amendment. In fact, they can recite for you the entire Bill of Rights. Of course, it is a gifted program. Perhaps that’s too high a standard to be holding Ms. O’Donnell.

]]> By: sgrddy http://blogs.reuters.com/talesfromthetrail/2010/10/19/odonnell-has-question-on-u-s-constitution-where-does-it-say-separation-of-church-and-state/comment-page-1/#comment-410920 sgrddy Wed, 20 Oct 2010 15:33:55 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/?p=30764#comment-410920 The Constitution says a few other things explicitly - like Article I Section 8, or Amendments 2, 9, 10. But with regards to Amendment 1, Congress or the courts (the state as you put it) always have something to do with religion - especially if it is one that they don't like. There are many references to God in the founding documents, on the Capitol, our currency, etc. I doubt that many would yell much about separation of church and state whenever President Obama, Clinton, or Bush says "God Bless America." ...Or when the House or Senate opens with a prayer. ...Or that the military has chaplains too. The Constitution says a few other things explicitly – like Article I Section 8, or Amendments 2, 9, 10. But with regards to Amendment 1, Congress or the courts (the state as you put it) always have something to do with religion – especially if it is one that they don’t like.
There are many references to God in the founding documents, on the Capitol, our currency, etc.
I doubt that many would yell much about separation of church and state whenever President Obama, Clinton, or Bush says “God Bless America.” …Or when the House or Senate opens with a prayer. …Or that the military has chaplains too.

]]> By: radiogaga http://blogs.reuters.com/talesfromthetrail/2010/10/19/odonnell-has-question-on-u-s-constitution-where-does-it-say-separation-of-church-and-state/comment-page-1/#comment-410918 radiogaga Wed, 20 Oct 2010 15:20:34 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/?p=30764#comment-410918 Respectfully, since freedom from the Church of England was one of the reasons we separated from England in the first place, doesn't it make sense that our Founding Fathers were referring to protecting people from being forced to accept the beliefs of any particular religion again? I don't know of one person in America that is forced to be a member of a particular denomination, or any Church at all for that matter. Also, if keegan believes the 1st Amendment means Congress can have nothing to do with laws regarding religion,("Congress (the State) has nothing to do with religion (church),how could they have made a law specifically dealing with religion? It's not possible to have freedom of religion and then turn around restrict where you can exercise it. Respectfully, since freedom from the Church of England was one of the reasons we separated from England in the first place, doesn’t it make sense that our Founding Fathers were referring to protecting people from being forced to accept the beliefs of any particular religion again? I don’t know of one person in America that is forced to be a member of a particular denomination, or any Church at all for that matter.

Also, if keegan believes the 1st Amendment means Congress can have nothing to do with laws regarding religion,(“Congress (the State) has nothing to do with religion (church),how could they have made a law specifically dealing with religion? It’s not possible to have freedom of religion and then turn around restrict where you can exercise it.

]]> By: keegan http://blogs.reuters.com/talesfromthetrail/2010/10/19/odonnell-has-question-on-u-s-constitution-where-does-it-say-separation-of-church-and-state/comment-page-1/#comment-410911 keegan Wed, 20 Oct 2010 13:29:21 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/?p=30764#comment-410911 Um...it explicity says a separation of church and state. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" - translated: Congress has nothing do do with religion or laws regarding establishing religion. and "(Congress shall make no law)...prohibiting the free exercise (of religion) thereof" - meaning people have relgious freedom. Thus, Congress (the State) has nothing to do with religion (church). This separation could not be worded more clearly. Um…it explicity says a separation of church and state.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion” – translated: Congress has nothing do do with religion or laws regarding establishing religion.

and “(Congress shall make no law)…prohibiting the free exercise (of religion) thereof” – meaning people have relgious freedom. Thus, Congress (the State) has nothing to do with religion (church). This separation could not be worded more clearly.

]]> By: JonIcanread http://blogs.reuters.com/talesfromthetrail/2010/10/19/odonnell-has-question-on-u-s-constitution-where-does-it-say-separation-of-church-and-state/comment-page-1/#comment-410905 JonIcanread Wed, 20 Oct 2010 11:46:26 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/?p=30764#comment-410905 Where does it say, “separation of church and state”? It says in effect: the government can make no law to “create” a religion or “force” you to accept a specific religion. You’re free to practice whatever religion you want. You’re also free to say, write, protest, or ask the government to right a wrong. As we are all governed first by our own ethics, which to many are derived from religion, it would be impossible to separate church (religion) and state. O’Donnell should have explained that to Coons and the ignorant students at Widener Law School. 1st 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. Where does it say, “separation of church and state”? It says in effect: the government can make no law to “create” a religion or “force” you to accept a specific religion. You’re free to practice whatever religion you want. You’re also free to say, write, protest, or ask the government to right a wrong.

As we are all governed first by our own ethics, which to many are derived from religion, it would be impossible to separate church (religion) and state. O’Donnell should have explained that to Coons and the ignorant students at Widener Law School.

1st 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.

]]> By: sgrddy http://blogs.reuters.com/talesfromthetrail/2010/10/19/odonnell-has-question-on-u-s-constitution-where-does-it-say-separation-of-church-and-state/comment-page-1/#comment-410903 sgrddy Wed, 20 Oct 2010 11:35:40 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/?p=30764#comment-410903 If you would actually read the Constitution, you would see that there are no such words "separation of church and state" in Amendment 1. It says that there shall be no establishment of religion (like the Church of England) nor shall Congress prohibit the free exercise thereof. If you would actually read the Constitution, you would see that there are no such words “separation of church and state” in Amendment 1. It says that there shall be no establishment of religion (like the Church of England) nor shall Congress prohibit the free exercise thereof.

]]> By: fromthecenter http://blogs.reuters.com/talesfromthetrail/2010/10/19/odonnell-has-question-on-u-s-constitution-where-does-it-say-separation-of-church-and-state/comment-page-1/#comment-410853 fromthecenter Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:47:00 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/?p=30764#comment-410853 And this is what the tea party stands for? The election of their candidates like O'donnell, Miller, Angle and Paul shows that this party is a complete embarrassment to the country. I would love a third party, but not funded by the koch brothers and led by the likes of Dick Armey. I wonder what the republicans that were courting the tea party and supporting the likes of these fools are thinking now? And this is what the tea party stands for? The election of their candidates like O’donnell, Miller, Angle
and Paul shows that this party is a complete embarrassment
to the country. I would love a third party, but not funded by the koch brothers and led by the likes of Dick Armey. I wonder what the republicans that were courting the tea party and supporting the likes of these fools are thinking now?

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