[BruceS]

Wrong. The 1st Amendment says (in part) "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

The difference may be subtle, but the way you have it, religion itself is referenced (THE establishment of religion). The way it is written, it refers to any specific church (AN establishment), forbidding Congress to favor one church over another. Of course, neither way does it mandate a separation of church and state.

This may be picky, but to me the Constitution is a sacred document.

[Sabertooth]

The difference may be subtle, but the way you have it, religion itself is referenced (THE establishment of religion). The way it is written, it refers to any specific church (AN establishment), forbidding Congress to favor one church over another. Of course, neither way does it mandate a separation of church and state.

This may be picky, but to me the Constitution is a sacred document.

Sounds like we agree. Check out #196 for more.

IIRC something like seven of the original thirteen states had their own churches at the time Constitution was ratified. The First Ammendment ended none of them.

[mindprism.com]

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof

My interpretation:

Congress shall make no law (ABOUT - HONORING - REQUIRING) a (RELIGIOUS IDEAL OR MECHANISM [CHARITY, MARRIAGE, church, worship, circumcism, etc]) or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

No Charity, no welfare.