From: "Lan Barnes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
On Sun, March 25, 2007 8:34 am, Karl Cunningham wrote:
> Lan Barnes wrote:
>> On Sat, March 24, 2007 4:39 pm, Ralph Shumaker wrote:
>>> Todd Walton wrote:
>>>
>>>> If I were a Founding Father, I'd have added something about
separation
>> of Economy and State, to go along with Church and State. I'd have to
>> think about it some more, though.
>>>
>>> The Founding Fathers said nothing about separation of Church and State
>> *except* to make it clear that the State must stay out of the Church,
>>
>> It's true that there are no constitutional prohibitions on churches (or
>> labor unions or Boy Scout troops or just about any group) from
>> participating in politics in an organized, legal manner. This is as it
>> should be.
>>
>> However, to understand the intent of the founders on any topic, one
>> needs
>> to read their other writings in which they discuss their goals in
>> drafting
>> the rather spare language of the constitution. Much of this is
collected
>> in the Federalist Papers and the less well known Anti-Federalist Papers
>> (the commentary of Franklin and other dissenters).
>
> There is also the Treaty of Tripoli. See
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Tripoli
> and scroll down to the article 11 part.
> [This part of the treaty was] approved by President John Adams and
> Secretary of State Timothy Pickering and ratified by the Senate.
>
> Karl
>
>
Gawd but I love this list! Thanks -- I learned something.
Also, a recent article on Cecil Adam's Straight Dope mentions Jefferson's
opinions on the matter:
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mfreereligion.htm
Jefferson himself stated the idea of a "wall of separation". Given that he
drafted the Virginia state constitution that has the same principle, and
which our 1st amendment is based on, I trust his interpretation.
Gabe
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