So you're saying the 1st amendment wasn't necessary.
247 posted on 10/31/2004 9:18:07 AM
PST by robertpaulsen
______________________________________
I didn't say that. Why are you assuming I did?
Well, if supporting a State religion infringes on the rights of other State citizens, then surely supporting a National religion would infringe on the rights of other citizens.
Do you agree?
Now you posted that even though the state has the power to form a state religion, "I think they would be denied that power by a USSC opinion."
Did you not say that?
Then it logically follows that if the National government has the power, they too would be denied that power by a USSC opinion.
Don't you agree?
So, why have the Establishment Clause of the 1st amendment? Hell, according to you, anybody who forms a church will be overrridden by the USSC anyways.
The only logical answer is that the 1st amendment, all of it, only applied to the federal government. The states were free to form their own religion, and did. States that had their own religion in 1789 were admitted to the Union. They maintained these religions until the early 1800's, and disbanded them on their own.
Today, the 1st amendment, all of it, applies to the states, Justice Clarence Thomas' opinion notwithstanding.