Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: wideawake
I did consult The Federalist. In the context of religion, "establishment" indeed refers to pre-existing institutions as well as institutions yet to be created.

Creating a common fund which all religions and non-religious interest groups can draw on for charitable purposes is not establishing any specific religion.

No, but it is a law respecting an establishment of religion. By the way, funds confiscated from taxpayers' income are inherently non-charitable as they are coerced.

216 posted on 05/02/2007 1:17:22 PM PDT by The_Eaglet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 215 | View Replies ]


To: The_Eaglet
Incorrect.

A law establishing a religion is a law saying: "The Episcopal Church is hereby declared the official religion of the state. The Episcopal Church and all its activities will receive exclusive government funding."

A law "respecting" an establishment of religion would not make the Episcopal Church or the Presbyterian Church the official state religion, i.e. establish it - but it would offer lesser privileges to it that other religions were not privy to and which would contemplate or respect it as if it were an established religion.

The law we are discussing does not single out any religion for establishment or even for such lesser privileges and advantages falling short of establishment.

By the way, funds confiscated from taxpayers' income are inherently non-charitable as they are coerced.

Fair enough. They are used for relief purposes, then.

217 posted on 05/02/2007 1:27:35 PM PDT by wideawake
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 216 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson