[tpaine]

"Congress shall make no law ..." applies only to the 'establishment' clause.-- A point Justice Thomas reiterated in his last opinion, and we all argued over."

I see. So the states are not bound by this? They may support their own state religion?

Legally speaking the original States that had them could make a good case to that effect. But seeing that all States must have a republican form of government, I think they would be denied that power by a USSC opinion. Supporting a State religion infringes on the rights of other State citizens. As Utah found out in its fight for Statehood.

You have a poor memory. You lost the argument.

Whatever.

[robertpaulsen]

Utah's statehood was granted on the condition that a ban on polygamy be written into the Utah Constitution. This was a condition required of other western states that were also admitted later into the Union.

"Supporting a State religion infringes on the rights of other State citizens."

Right. And supporting a National religion infringes on the rights of other citizens. So you're saying the 1st amendment wasn't necessary.