The-Goddess/ Pagan Unity Campaign- KY

For Immediate Release
Protecting the Religious Rights of All Americans

Contact: Press@Paganunitycampaign.org

Date: Jan 14th, 2003

Web: www.paganunitycampaign.org

Response to Justice Scalia's comments on Separation of Church and State

The Pagan Unity Campaign is concerned with issues of religious diversity, tolerance and the sacredness of the right of freedom of religion in the United States of America. Justice Scalia's comments that the courts have "gone overboard keeping God out of the government" and "the constitutional wall between church and state has been misinterpreted by the Supreme Court and lower courts" are very disturbing. This is especially troubling in light of his position on the highest court of the land and his duty to uphold the rights of all citizens as granted by the Constitution of the United States.  Justice Scalia's remarks show a lack of understanding of the concerns of the millions of Americans that follow minority faiths.

Our Constitution and the Bill of Rights ensures that no preferred religion, or religious dogma, will be prescribed to the American People.  The Framers of the Constitution understood the tyranny that a non-secular government could impose and cleverly drafted a unique "blueprint" for government that ensured that the rights of "minor factions" were as equally protected as those of "majority factions."  For any governmental body within the US to officially adopt or recognize one religion over another would be to express the "tyranny of the majority", a great fear that was expounded upon at length by James Madison in the Federalist Papers.

Many Americans are atheists; many others follow other religions that have no basis in Judaism, Christianity, or Islam; all were granted the right to worship, without fear of persecution, as they wish by the Constitution.  A Supreme Court Justice is charged with interpreting laws based upon their "Constitutionality".  Justice Scalia is supposed to uphold the tenets of the Constitution, not rewrite it to fit his own biased personal opinions.

Religious diversity, which has been the cause of many nations to tear themselves apart in civil wars, is an enduring strength of America.  We in America enjoy a religious tolerance unheard of elsewhere in the world.  Americans believe deeply in their Constitution and countless lives have been given to the protection of our freedoms.  Did we learn nothing of the dangers of combining church and state from the Taliban regime in Afghanistan?  The Shia' government in Iran? Or from the religiously inspired warfare that has raged in Ireland?

Thomas Jefferson coined the phrase "separation of church and state" in response to a letter from the Danbury (CT) Baptists, as they too felt that God was missing from government.  Many of the Framers wrote eloquently on the need for a secular nation and "revisionists" who wish to interpret the Constitution to fit their own religious beliefs need only look to the writing of Jefferson, Madison, and Franklin to understand the minds of the Framers on this issue.<br><br>
No better example of the true secular nature of our government, and the Framers' intent, can be found than the 1796 Treaty of Tripoli.  The treaty, initiated by George Washington, was signed into law by John Adams, and ratified by a Congress consisting of many of the Framers of the Constitution, clearly states that the United States of America is in no way a Christian Nation.  We quote, "Article 11. As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion,--as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen,--and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries".  As treaties have the full weight of law, we feel that this is overwhelming evidence as to the secular nature of the United States.

The Framers knew the dangers of non-secular governments and devised the world's first government that was truly "by the people, for the people, and of the people."  The First Amendment clearly separates church and state, while protecting the rights of all citizens to worship as they believe.  While Justice Scalia may feel that 230 years of court interpretation of this amendment is "too liberal", the "blessings of liberty" ensures that our government remains neutral on this potentially divisive issue.   In 1782, Thomas Jefferson in his work Notes on Virginia wrote, "But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg."  It would seem that Jefferson understood well the America to come, one that revels in its infinite diversity and knew that from that diversity comes the strength that makes America, America.

The Pagan Unity Campaign would politely state that the actual words of the Framers outweigh those of Justice Scalia on this matter and urge him to respect the religious traditions of all Americans.

The Kentucky Chapter
of the
Pagan Unity Campaign's
Political Action Committee
(PUC_PAC).

State Representatives

Press and Media

Pagan Bill of Rights

News

Projects

Email the Kentucky State Chair directly
Morgaine Swann

For Immediate Release

The Kentucky Chapter of the Pagan Unity Campaign's Political Action Committee (PUC_PAC).

State Representatives Press and Media Pagan Bill of Rights News Projects Email the Kentucky State Chair directly Morgaine Swann

For Immediate Release

The Kentucky Chapter
of the
Pagan Unity Campaign's
Political Action Committee
(PUC_PAC).

State Representatives

Press and Media

Pagan Bill of Rights

News

Projects

Email the Kentucky State Chair directly
Morgaine Swann