Not to start anything, because frankly, I don't much care if he takes his oath on a copy of Webster's Ditionary, as long as he takes (and means) the same oath as every other officeholder. If his word is not his word, the book under his hand doesn't matter at all. And, indeed, some officeholders have not "sworn," but "affirmed." ...
But the "wall of separation between church and state" is not in the Constitution. Not anywhere. I've read the Constitution repeatedly (yes, I really AM that geeky), and I've read the letter, written in 1802, in which Jefferson wrote that phrase.
All the Constitution has to say on religion appears in the First Amendment, which states in its entirety: "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."
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Date: 2006-11-29 11:34 pm (UTC)But the "wall of separation between church and state" is not in the Constitution. Not anywhere. I've read the Constitution repeatedly (yes, I really AM that geeky), and I've read the letter, written in 1802, in which Jefferson wrote that phrase.
All the Constitution has to say on religion appears in the First Amendment, which states in its entirety: "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."