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Politics : Proof that John Kerry is Unfit for Command -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: TideGlider who wrote (24806)	11/5/2004 8:14:32 AM
From: cirrus	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 27181

The First Amendment states: "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." Initially this amendment restricted only the powers of Congress regarding religion. However, the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, proposed by Congress on 1866-JUN-16, required individual states to also follow the Bill of Rights. The 14th Amendment states that: "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States." The 14th Amendment was proclaimed adopted on 1868-JUL-21. Since that date, the First Amendment, and other amendments guaranteeing rights to citizens, apply equally to all levels of government. Barefoot Windwalker, "The Constitution for the United States: Its sources and its application," Barefoot's World at: barefootsworld.net In 1947, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled: "The 'establishment of religion' clause of the First Amendment means at least this: Neither a state nor the Federal Government can set up a church. Neither can pass laws which aid one religion, aid all religions, or prefer one religion over another. Neither can force nor influence a person to go to or to remain away from church against his will or force him to profess a belief or disbelief in any religion. No person can be punished for entertaining or professing religious beliefs or disbeliefs, for church attendance or non-attendance. No tax in any amount, large or small, can be levied to support any religious activities or institutions, whatever they may be called, or whatever from they may adopt to teach or practice religion. Neither a state nor the Federal Government can, openly or secretly, participate in the affairs of any religious organizations or groups and vice versa. In the words of Jefferson, the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to erect 'a wall of separation between Church and State'." Reynolds v. United States, supra, 98 U.S. Page 164. You wrote: The US Constitution leaves to the States what laws it does not cover. It clearly denies the States the ability to establish a State religion. The marriage laws are left to the states as they are not covered by constitutional sanction or prohibition.