John Nichols: Bush Whacks the Wall of Separation

[marmar]

from The Nation:




BLOG | Posted 03/22/2008 @ 10:32am
Bush Whacks the Wall of Separation


Thomas Jefferson observed in his January 1, 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptists that America was not a church state.

As such, he explained, it was the president's duty to refrain from displays of religious devotion.

"Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man & his god, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, thus building a wall of separation between church and state," wrote Jefferson. "(Congress thus inhibited from acts respecting religion, and the Executive authorized only to execute their acts, I have refrained from presenting even occasional performances of devotion presented indeed legally where an Executive is the legal head of a national church, but subject here, as religious exercises only to the voluntary regulations and discipline of each respective sect.) Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties."

Note the phrase: "I have refrained from presenting even occasional performances of devotion presented indeed legally where an Executive is the legal head of a national church..."

Now, note, George W. Bush's Easter Weekend radio address, in which the Jefferson's successor as president of the United States, quoted from and repeatedly referenced the Christian Bible. The address was every bit as religious in tone and text as those delivered today by the leaders of theocratic states that identify as having an officially-sanctioned faith. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?bid=1&pid=301487

[opihimoimoi]

1. Love the title...bushwhacks

[Winterblues]

2. This one fragment of a sentence should be sent to all in congress AND the Administration

"(Congress thus inhibited from acts respecting religion, and the Executive authorized only to execute their acts",

[SidDithers]

3. We can only hope that whoever wins 2008...

will show more respect for that wall, than the current preacher-in-cheif.

Sid