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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJames Madison, "Father of the Constitution," on chaplains in Congress
...But besides the danger of a direct mixture of Religion & civil Government, there is an evil which ought to be guarded agst in the indefinite accumulation of property from the capacity of holding it in perpetuity by ecclesiastical corporations.
...Is the appointment of Chaplains to the two Houses of Congress consistent with the Constitution, and with the pure principle of religious freedom?
In strictness the answer on both points must be in the negative. The Constitution of the U. S. forbids everything like an establishment of a national religion. The law appointing Chaplains establishes a religious worship for the national representatives, to be performed by Ministers of religion, elected by a majority of them; and these are to be paid out of the national taxes. Does not this involve the principle of a national establishment, applicable to a provision for a religious worship for the Constituent as well as of the representative Body, approved by the majority, and conducted by Ministers of religion paid by the entire nation.
The establishment of the chaplainship to Congs is a palpable violation of equal rights, as well as of Constitutional principles: The tenets of the chaplains elected [by the majority] shut the door of worship agst the members whose creeds & consciences forbid a participation in that of the majority.
...Better also to disarm in the same way, the precedent of Chaplainships for the army and navy, than erect them into a political authority in matters of religion.
...Is the appointment of Chaplains to the two Houses of Congress consistent with the Constitution, and with the pure principle of religious freedom?
In strictness the answer on both points must be in the negative. The Constitution of the U. S. forbids everything like an establishment of a national religion. The law appointing Chaplains establishes a religious worship for the national representatives, to be performed by Ministers of religion, elected by a majority of them; and these are to be paid out of the national taxes. Does not this involve the principle of a national establishment, applicable to a provision for a religious worship for the Constituent as well as of the representative Body, approved by the majority, and conducted by Ministers of religion paid by the entire nation.
The establishment of the chaplainship to Congs is a palpable violation of equal rights, as well as of Constitutional principles: The tenets of the chaplains elected [by the majority] shut the door of worship agst the members whose creeds & consciences forbid a participation in that of the majority.
...Better also to disarm in the same way, the precedent of Chaplainships for the army and navy, than erect them into a political authority in matters of religion.
With all the hoopla around Ryan firing the House chaplain, and now around who's going to replace him, I say we go with Madison and get rid of chaplains in Congress altogether.
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James Madison, "Father of the Constitution," on chaplains in Congress (Original Post)
NYC Liberal
Apr 2018
OP
manor321
(3,344 posts)1. Madison and Jefferson
Madison and Jefferson are two of my favorites. Both championed separation of church and state.
And we owe so much of our Constitution to Madison alone.
ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)2. Thank you for posting this
As much as I am angry with Ryan for being an asshole, I have thought the very notion of having a chaplain was a serious violation of separation of church and state.
peequod
(189 posts)3. How about the appointment of a psychologist? Or at least an exorcist
...for some of our congress critters.
kskiska
(27,045 posts)4. My daughter was fired from her job as an accountant at a textile company
because the owner got religion and it got to the point where she was shunned by everyone for refusing the bible study group and didn't feel the need to confer with the corporate chaplain who visited a couple times a week. Dominionists are quietly taking over corporations like this and ridding themselves of anyone who doesn't conform.