The First Ammendment of the Constitution of the United States of America:
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.
The Separation of Church and State is nowhere to be mentioned in the Constitution or the First Amendment. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion” is nothing more than a protection of religion against the evermore power-hungry government of the State. However in our modern day environment, that has come to mean, “Let’s ban the church, prayer, and the Bible from our public buildings and properties”.
Few want to talk about the “or prohibiting the free execise therof” part of the amendment (of which a “free press” is connected). In this same sentence we see the protection of the press from the cancerous cords of government corruption, as well as the more favorable prospects of religious freedom. The government in fact, is told they are not to pursue legal and official statuses with the church, and the church is then, in turn, granted the same freedoms and priveleges as the press. That is the First Amendment. Therefore, if “Seperation of Church and State”, is upheld based on this amendment, then so should a “Separation of Press and State”. And yet, the press is attacking the church, through this oft’ times misquoted and misapplied passage in the Constitution. I say, “No prayer, no press… no religion, no reporter… no Church, no commercials (meaning political ads or otherwise)”.
Pastor Shane Ogle
