Emile,
Some fascinating bits in that decision:
all persons are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty: wherefore, no person ought, by any law, to be molested in his
person or estate on account of his religious persuasion or profession, or for his religious practice, unless, under the color of religion, he shall disturb the good order, peace, or safety of the state, or shall infringe the laws of morality, or injure others in their natural, civil, or religious rights; nor ought any person to be compelled to frequent or maintain or contribute, unless on contract, to maintain any place of worship or any ministry
The section in bold-face type makes it very clear that no tax-supported institution may be used for religious ministry. And do you understand that many of us feel that persistent prosletyzing is an infringement of our religious rights "under the color of religion"?
in propagating of Christian Religion to such People, as yet live in Darkness and miserable Ignorance of the true Knowledge and Worship of God, and may in time bring the Infidels and Savages, living in those parts, to human Civility, and to a settled and quiet Government
Do you approve of the manner in which our forefathers propagated the Christian Religion to the native Americans? With your extreme sensitivity to the plight of the Palestinians, surely you must have some feelings on the matter.
Here's a real gem, from the Constitution of Mississippi:
No person who denies the being of a God, or a future state of rewards and punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this state
One wonders if that provision, so blatantly in contradiction of the US constitution, is still law in that state?
Reading through the quotes cited in that decision it becomes clear that there have been two diametrically opposed strains of thought running through the religious life of the US, from the very beginning. One favors freedom of religion for all, of all religions. The other believes in freedom of religion solely for Christians. It is a resounding credit to our senses of fairness, morality, and tolerance that the former strain has gained ascendance, while the latter has been consigned to the scrap-heap of failed ideas, where it belongs.
Steve |
