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To: shubi
Actually, teaching any religion in school is not unconstitutional. Only teaching the single government religion is unconstitutional.

Half right. Government can "neither advance nor inhibit religion", and it must not foster "an excessive government entanglement with religion." (see Lemon v. Kurtzman)

Parochial schools can teach what ever religion they wish; government schools cannot.

244 posted on 02/18/2005 12:18:39 AM PST by dread78645 (Sarcasm tags are for wusses.)
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To: dread78645
"Actually, teaching any religion in school is not unconstitutional. Only teaching the single government religion is unconstitutional."

Half right. Government can "neither advance nor inhibit religion", and it must not foster "an excessive government entanglement with religion." (see Lemon v. Kurtzman)

Parochial schools can teach what ever religion they wish; government schools cannot.

More clarification...part of the Establishment Clause test from Lemon is whether the government sponsored activity has the tendency to endorse religion, as the sticker clearly seems to do. I think that the "entanglement" prong of the test is inapplicable to the sticker situation, since it doesn't require that the government become involved in any inner church workings.

252 posted on 02/18/2005 3:49:44 AM PST by Chiapet
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To: dread78645

I know that is the current take on the Constitution, but that is not what the Constitution really says.

First Ammendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Congress is prohibited from making a law establishing religion. No law is involved in teaching religion in school on a local level. The federal government shouldn't be involved in our schools at all. It does not have authority to do so.

What they neglect to consider is the clause that Congress cannot prohibit the free exercise of religion. The Courts do not have the authority to do any of this. It is all up to Congress.



257 posted on 02/18/2005 4:47:50 AM PST by shubi (Peace through superior firepower.)
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