In order to ensure to citizens freedom of conscience, the church in the U.S.S.R. is separated from the state, and the school from the church. Freedom of religious worship and freedom of antireligious propaganda is recognized for all citizens.So in general, any blurting out of the phrase separation of church and state is echoic of that law and its meaning rather than Jeffersons letter to the Danbury Baptists.
Article 124 of 1936 Stalin Constitution
Citizens of the USSR are guaranteed freedom of conscience, that is, the right to profess or not to profess any religion, and to conduct religious worship or atheistic propaganda. Incitement of hostility or hatred on religious grounds is prohibited. In the USSR, the church is separated from the state, and the school from the church.
Article 52, 1977 Brezhnev Constitution
Yes, I agree, but since 1946 separation of church and state has been codified into USA law - legal or not!
(All governments have a founding religious philosophy, whether its Islam, communism, Christian, atheistic secular paganism, or whatever. Similar to every individual has a religious worldview, but they may or may not recognize it. I recognize my worldview as Christian, and I want my government to be based on Christianity - just like the founding fathers wanted it to be and started it out as.)