Obviously this argument about "the wall of separation" not being in the Constitution or the Decalration of Independence will go on for as long as peopel want it to. But what there is no argument over it the FACT taht the word god doesnot appear in hte Constitution and that is by the design of Mr. Madison and to a certain extent,Mr. Jefferson. In fact the only reference to religion in the Constitution in in Article 6 reagrding "no religious test be required tot hold office". Plus among all of the grevences in the D.o I. none was about religion. I know tihs post will be attacked or ignored. I don't care. I knoe waht I know.
In this day and age of unlimited information one can always find "facts" to substatiate one's POV. Mr. Tasin's reliance on the teachings of the Roman Cathoilc Church almost exclusively is a good point. We do not necessarily search for the truth whatever that is-I do not believe in absolute truths.

Mr. Tasin,I am surprised you did not know the facts ,since this is your issue.

Read more on this from Lifenews.com:

Sotomayor, a member of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, has not directly issued any rulings on abortion but she has been involved in abortion cases..

"Despite 17 years on the bench, Judge Sotomayor has never directly decided whether a law regulating abortion was constitutional," the pro-life group Americans United for Life noted in a recent analysis of potential Supreme Court candidates.

http://blogs.cbn.com/thebrodyfile/arc...

Tasin..."God picks our leaders and he picked Obama."

All this time I thought it was 64 million voters.

Yes Pilot,

God tries to bless everyone with what they want. It rains on the bad and the good.
That way maybe a bad person will see the error of his/her ways. God loves everyone
And wants them to choose to be with Him. But if they choose Hell…that is their choice and they cannot blame God.

Mike, God chose Bush…I don't know why. Bishop Sheen when asked a similar question
said to the atheist; "When I get to heaven I will ask Bush." And the atheist replied: What if he is not in heaven?" Bishop Sheen then said: "Then you ask him"

In regards to Sodomayer, she ruled in favor of abortion on four different occasions. Her nomination will be approved. Americans do not realizes that we are now under a dictatorship. Best, wpt

Mr. Tasin
God picked George W. Bush? Why?

Scarlett61
While it is true that the judicial panel can ask judge Sotomayor any question that they feel that is appropriate, all Supreme Court candidates will give the standard answer.

When asked about their views on Roe v Wade; the answer will be “it is settled law”.

When asked about the second amendment, the answer will be “I cannot give you an answer because a second amendment case might come before me, as Supreme Court judge.”

The words of Justice Scalia writing for the majority in the 2002 case of Republican Party of Minnesota vs. White .

This complete separation of the judiciary from the enterprise of "representative government" might have some truth in those countries where judges neither make law themselves nor set aside the laws enacted by the legislature. It is not a true picture of the American system. Not only do state-court judges possess the power to "make" common law, but they have the immense power to shape the States' constitutions as well. See, e.g., Baker v. State, 170 Vt. 194, 744 A. 2d 864 (1999). Which is precisely why the election of state judges became popular.

How is what Judge Sotomayor statement she made any differeant from Justice Scalia's?

Sorry, Mr. Tasin, if I have to differ on your note.

God did not elect Mr. Obama, he was elected through the free will that God gave to us. Yes, it might be during his term(s) that this nation is brought to her knees. But it will be because of his poor judgement not his strengths.

To those who didn't think Sonamayor (sp) should have been questioned about her view on abortion. Hello, when a judge is nominated for the Supreme Court the Congress should have the right to question them abouth ANYTHING that they might have to make a ruling on. Apparently some people are disregarding her record as a circuit judge. How the woman is now there to protect the fidelity of the Constitution, when before she said her job on the circuit court was to make laws not interpret the Constitution.

Honesty is always appreciated. Actually the phrase "Separation of Church and State" is in the Constitution…of Russia. Ours says that the state shall make no laws prohibiting the free exercise of religion.
Dr. Alice is still active and can be seen now and then on EWTN TV.
God picks our leaders and he picked Obama. Obama is doing everything that God expected of him and Obama will bring this nation down to its knees, which is where we belong.
50 million women are suffering from the terrible consequences of having their babies dismembered. They are not allowed to mention the "A" word and suffer in hidden grief.
America and the world has passed too far to be able to turn back, only God can save us now. And excellent book to read on the subject is "Our Lady of Kibeho" by Immaculee Ilibagiza.
Good letter Chris, write another one. wpt

But Mike,

You also said, “Keep the church out of the state ,and the state out of the church” and “ When I use it, I know it does not come from the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Federalist papers or any other official document.”

Although you may not be directly changing the constitution, you are perpetuating the lie that is separation of church and state. Your comments infer the belief that public expression of religion is not permissible under the constitution when you know otherwise.

You also said, “not everyone goes back to the literal meaning of separation of “church and state” to arrive at their viewpoint.”

Does this also apply to those whose political opinion you disagree with? You have attacked numerous political figures over the years for their less than literal constitutional interpretation? Your hypocrisy is revealed sir when less than literal interpertation are good enough for you but not others who you disagree with.

Have a good evening.

Wayward,

Although the Founders were as a whole, devote Christian men who believed that the teachings of the Christian faith are necessary for a good and righteous government, they choose at the federal level not to prohibit other religious beliefs. This did not mean that they wanted to promote pluralism of other religions. As Justice Story said:

“The real object of the First Amendment was not to countenance, much less advance, Mahometanism, or Judaism, or infidelity, by prostrating Christianity; but to exclude all rivalry among Christian sects”

You see, the founders believed that pluralism survived only within the concept of religious liberty espoused by American Christianity.

The First Amendment was enacted for a very narrow purpose and to prohibit a very specific offense; The Federal establishment of a particular Christian denomination, although it was completely permissible for the States to have their own State-established denominations. No state choose to do this in their constitution but instead made provisions for the encouragement of religion, or the PUBLIC teaching of religion in general.

You must understand that although other religions are allowed under the First Amendment, it is the teaching of the Christian faith that is the foundation of our Republican form of Government and our laws are based upon Biblical Natural law, Gods law.

“Our citizens should early understand that the genuine source of correct republican principles is the Bible, particularly the New Testament, or the Christian religion.” (Noah Webster)

“Where there is no law, there is no liberty; and nothing deserves the name of law but that which is certain and universal in its operation upon all members of the community.” (Benjamin Rush)

The source of authority under our American Republic is Biblical Natural Law. It is our foundation and if we choose to destroy the foundation the house will fall.

I do not have the capacity nor the desire to change the United States Constitution.

I’m merely said I used “church and state” as a metaphor. How is at being hypocritical? It is merely a personal opinion….. You’re taking my two or three sentences; way out of context.

The constitution is still intact…..

You have a good night.

jbosch95..."Let me leave you with the wise words of Noah Webster & John Adams, respectably. Please take them to heart. “Our citizens should early understand that the GENUINE source of correct republican principles is the Bible, particularly the New Testament, or the Christian religion.”

Gee, THIS sounds like ONLY Christianity is allowed. What about the Jewish, Hindu, Budist, and even muslim religions. I thought the First Amendment says congress shall make NO law respecting an establishment of religion NOR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE thereof. (Emphasis added) Sounds like Noah only liked Christians.

“We are a self governing people and as such our government is not armed with the power capable of contending with human passion unbridled by morality and religion…Our Constitution was made ONLY for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other”.

If the Constitution was made ONLY for a moral and religious people, what about those of us who aren't particularly religious? Do you think Adams meant that if we aren't Christians therefore we're not moral? This sounds suspiciously like you believe that Adams and Webster wanted Christianity to be the official national religion, which even you admit the Constitution forbids.

For those of us who are lacking in formal religion BY CHOICE, does that mean that we're not welcome in the US and that the rights espoused by the Constitution don't apply to us? Gee, for more than six decades I thought I was a full-fledged citizen and you tell me that John Adams says otherwise? How disheartening.

Mike,

What gives you, or anyone else the right to remake the constitution and its true intend outside of the process dictated in the constitution?

Just because you choose to deny the truth does not mean it is not still the truth!

You rail against Bush for his unconstitutional actions but here you admit that you too are denying the true intent of the constitution. Is this not hypocritical?

I like to use “church and state” as a common metaphor…… Keep the church out of the state ,and the state out of the church.

Not everyone goes back to the literal meaning of separation of “church and state” to arrive at their viewpoint..

When I use it, I know it does not come from the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Federalist papers or any other official document.

Grim, I challenge you or anyone one else to find the phrase, “Separation of Church and State” in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Federalist Pares or ANY other official founding document!

The First Amendment simply states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or PROHIBITING the free exercise thereof. This meant that the Founding Fathers did not want a single federal denomination to rule America (“Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion…”), but they DID expect basic Biblical principles and values to BE present throughout PUBLIC life and society (“…nor prohibiting the free exercise thereof”).

This phrase you reference comes from Thomas Jefferson’s letter in response to the Danbury Baptist Associations apprehension that the government might someday WRONGLY believe that it did have the power to regulate public religious activities. In his letter, Jefferson made it clear that the “wall of separation” was erected not to limit public religious expression but rather to provide security against government interference with those expressions, whether private or PUBLIC.

Up until 1947, the courts upheld the true intend that the First Amendment had been enacted ONLY to prevent the federal establishment of a national denomination. The 1947 Supreme Court and many other since have disregard hundreds of years of prior precedent and other historical evidence and have become policy makers - SOMETHING EXPLICITLY FORBIDEN under our Constitution!

It is the laws and morality taught in the Christian faith that is the source of America’s prosperity and it is the continual unconstitutional erosion of these values that are destroying our nation!!!!!

Let me leave you with the wise words of Noah Webster & John Adams, respectably. Please take them to heart. “Our citizens should early understand that the GENUINE source of correct republican principles is the Bible, particularly the New Testament, or the Christian religion.”

“We are a self governing people and as such our government is not armed with the power capable of contending with human passion unbridled by morality and religion…Our Constitution was made ONLY for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other”.

What the heck has gotten the anti-abortion folks so upset these days? Fear tactics and bringing up the subject when it is not appropriate (such as the Sotomayor hearings yesterday) make you people look hysterical. You already have your sneaky little laws that make it almost impossible to get an abortion, your assassin killed a late-term abortion provider, and you still control the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is not going to overturn itself, for goodness sake. You won't convince any of us Pro-Choice people to believe you. You can't convince anyone with your disgusting posters and lies. The anti-choice folks are like little kids stomping and griping cuz everything is not EXACTLY how they want it to be. Grow up already and stop reminding us that you zealots still exist.

Mr. Kallus, I have read your letter three times now and I fail to see the causal connection between God in our schools and racial equality as referenced by the last sentence of the next to last paragraph.

You seem to imply that God would lead this nation to greatness if only this administration would listen to Him. However, the last administration made a tremendous ado about talking to God (I believe President Bush even had a special prayer closet in the White House) and apparently God instructed them to (1) start a war which has led us to the brink of bankruptcy, (2) torture people in the name of "right", (3) take away or civil liberties in the name of "security", and (4) lie to the american people to secure their support in the name of "freedom".

Please don't misunderstand me Mr. Kallus. I do not for one minute think God had anything to do with the aforementioned acts. I am simply cautioning that we should not blindly follow in lockstep behind any politician simply because he claims to take his decisions to God in prayer. When this occurs, judging from the past eight years, something seems to get lost in translation.

"This administration is destined to take every reference to God out of our schools, city and nation, and will do so against your will through the court system."

Way to use fear tactics to RALLY supporters to your cause. And have you ever heard of Separation of Church and State?

I'm not all for the government doing whatever, but the government can only take away what WE give them. Why post this letter to the editor, when it could have just as easily be sent to your State Representative?

republicans--do your part by keeping your pants zipped. Thank you.