Romney's "Faith in America" Atrocity

[packbat]

When I read the transcript of Mitt Romney's speech yesterday, I really did not know how to respond. It's so well-written that I don't know how to express my objections to the content.

Now, Fred 'Slacktivist' Clark has already replied to the worst part - the line "Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom." I can add very little to what he said on that point; I recommend you read his entire post.

But there is one more paragraph that needs addressing.

We separate church and state affairs in this country, and for good reason. No religion should dictate to the state nor should the state interfere with the free practice of religion. But in recent years, the notion of the separation of church and state has been taken by some well beyond its original meaning. They seek to remove from the public domain any acknowledgment of God. Religion is seen as merely a private affair with no place in public life. It's as if they are intent on establishing a new religion in America - the religion of secularism. They are wrong.

He is wrong. This idea is as alien to the soul of the United States as any idea can be.

Let me reiterate. Not only, as Mr. Clark argues in the post linked above, is this idea inherently pernicious to both , but it is in keeping with no valid interpretation of the Constitution - not the modern interpretation and not the original intent of the authors. To show the latter requires no more than to cite an amicus brief by Edward Tabash to the California Supreme Court. Following the example of my source, Blake Stacey, I shall quote the especially relevant paragraph:

When the Senate, of the very first Congress, was considering the wording of the religion clauses of what was to become the First Amendment, it rejected, on September 3, 1789, two proposed phrases that, if adopted, could have arguably only prevented government from favoring one religion over another. The first proposed wording, rejected by the Senate, read: “Congress shall make no law establishing one religious sect or society in preference to any other.” The Senate additionally rejected wording that read: "Congress shall make no law establishing any particular denomination or religion in preference to any other." The Senate finally chose wording that read: "Congress shall make no law establishing articles of faith or a mode of worship, or prohibiting the free exercise of religion."

I shall suggest also a review of the Lemon test and Jefferson's wall of separation letter.