Today's decision:

The Supreme Court Just Blew A Gaping Hole In The Wall Of Separation Between Church And State | ThinkProgress

The endorsement of a religion by the state is not a problem according to this decision. I'm curious about Thomas' view described near the end of the article. He holds that the separation of Church/State applies to the federal government and not the states. This seems to have been the case at one time since many State constitutions had religious requirements for office holders or bans on certain religious or non-religious believers from holding office. Any of the lawyers here know the history of decisions on this topic and when/why individual states began to separate religion and state? Why does Scalia not agree with Thomas on this issue.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

The gov can't force the citizens to believe or disbelieve. Or the free exercise thereof.

The amusing thing will be when Satan worshipping priests and Muslim Imams demand equal time.

Hopefully soon.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

Looks like part of the issue of individual states not being required to separate church and state was decided in 1961, but in such a way that Thomas' opinion is not out of the question.

Torcaso v. Watkins - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

The founding fathers had seen the Church of England having government support, essentially forcing people to that church or none at all. They did not want to see this happen here. Therefore the idea was to protect the church from the government NOT the other way around. I'm sorry if the SCOTUS saw it that way this morning against your own personal desires. That pesky constitution again.

__________________
2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

Larry. Really. You know better than that.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

The founding fathers didn't want the government forcing people to go to a particular church. So, in order to protect that church they separated religion and government. Because what church would want the government forcing people to belong to it?

Um, OK

__________________
You're a daisy if you do.
__________________________________
84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

What church were they protecting this time?

__________________
You're a daisy if you do.
__________________________________
84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

I interpreted what He said as meaning Church as Churches in general not a specific Church.

__________________
84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

This they did not want on a national basis. But they were more than happy to allow it at the state level. Several states (notably Virginia) had preferential treatment of certain sects written into law. The notion that church and state are anathema is a more recent innovation.

What I like most about this decision is that it puts the burden on the lowest-level governmental institution to make rules that apply equally to all comers. Thus, if some Christian sect is allowed in, Zoroastrians can demand an equal opportunity.

I expect the long-term end result will be so much wrangling over the microphone (in court, in news papers, in pulpits) that the governmental body in question will call a pox on all houses and advance to where they should be -- government absent all religious observance.

It'll be fun to watch. As an ordained minister and pastor of The Church of Lloyd Bridges (The Lloyd Our God, praise his holy name) I plan to demand a life size replica of The Argonaut be placed on the Arizona State Capitol grounds.

The Lloyd Our God

__________________
You're a daisy if you do.
__________________________________
84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

Don't forget also that he drove a brand new 1958 Pontiac Bonneville coupe.

(It was a black and white one!)

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Showing your age.....LOL

One of my fav's as a kid....

Up until after the civil war the capital rotunda was used for church services.....was no issue then, why now?

You're asking that, with no regard to American history and power before the 20th Century, really?