Another Rethuglican 'Squirrel Issue"

[JackLuis]

Orrin Hatch wants to tear down the wall of separation between church and state

In a biting editorial, written for the conservative Washington Times, long-time Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) suggests a novel and literal approach to the First Amendment, arguing that the wall of separation between the state and the church is non-existent despite what the Supreme Court has to say about it.

Hatch notes that Thomas Jefferson’s position on religious freedom was embodied in his Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, but that his approach to keeping the state and the church separate was a minority opinion at the time. The more dominant view, according to Hatch, was John Adams’ model, which instituted a “mild and equitable establishment of religion” that enshrined “Christian piety and virtue.”

According to Hatch, since the 1st Amendment specifically states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” only one “actor” is constrained: the U.S. Congress.

“On its face, this language affects only one actor, Congress, not states and local governments, and not individual citizens,” Hatch wrote, asserting that the 1st Amendment “…simply limited Congress’ ability to choose a preferred religious sect. This restriction on favoring one particular sect over another at the federal level made eminent sense for a new nation composed of states with a wide variety of religious traditions and approaches to established religion.”

Oh lets distract the voters with another 'burning issue' so the LSM won't focus on Rethuglican incompetence at dealing with economic, social justice, or Corporatism issues.
And why is the Senator from Utah even talking about it since Congress is constrained by the Constitution?

 

[Hard_Rom]

Orrin Hatch wants to tear down the wall of separation between church and state



Oh lets distract the voters with another 'burning issue' so the LSM won't focus on Rethuglican incompetence at dealing with economic, social justice, or Corporatism issues.
And why is the Senator from Utah even talking about it since Congress is constrained by the Constitution?

It could be worded in such away as to encompass the universal beliefs many of the world's largest religions espouse. Certainly any of the Abrahamic religions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

If the 1st amendment can fall, so can the 2nd. The formation of a standing army nullified the need.

Righties just may write Islam as good and guns as bad into law.