[Winona] Faith-Based

[Phil Carlson]

I agree with Erin Benedict's very articulate comments on faith-based organizations.  We can all appreciate the work they do, but we should not let the government support them.  I am also very glad there are passionate young people willing to do the important work that our social service agencies perform.  It too is based on faith, but a faith in humanity, not a particular religious faith.   It would be well to correct a minor part of Erin's comments.  Our country did not start out based on "division between church and state" (a statement that is not in our Constitution or Bill of Rights), but rather "freedom of religion" and against "establishment" of a religion (which phrases are in the Bill of Rights).  The phrase "separation of church and state"  was in some of the Founding Fathers' writings or maybe in later court cases.  Perhaps Judge Peterson or another learned scholar can set us straight on the exact words and their origins.   - Phil Carlson, Mpls