I think separation of church & state is a growing touchstone in the country. For us all.

[pinto]

Not always framed in that simplistic term (the phrase isn't used in the US Constitution). Yet it's the generic take on the 1st Amendment clause.

The separation standard is implied in the 1st -

"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".

Along with the 14th Amendment. It states a standard -

"Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

These two together set a clear federal format, imo. And are pertinent in the growing tug of war about challenges, i.e. Hobby Lobby and others, to those separations.

[trotsky]

1. Well, it's the job of the Supreme Court to interpret the Constitution.

So right now, the Constitution says that corporations are people and have religious rights.

[immoderate]

2. That presupposes a "government of the people,..."

There is only an illusion of that.

--imm

[pinto]

3. ???

[immoderate]

4. Here is some context...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025372995



--imm

[rurallib]

5. like so many other things, churches will not give up the power

granted them by the state easily

[cbayer]

6. I agree. It's one of the issues that believers and non-believers have been able

to work together on on a national level. It's one of those issues that pretty much everyone who participates in this group agrees upon, even though there are occasionally great areas.

It's one of those issues where we have more in common than we do differences.