The 1st Amendment to the Constitution states in part that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech . . . “
To the Colonists, most of whom came from England, this meant that the new federal government could not establish a state church, such as the Anglican Church of England.
The amendment was also intended to prevent the new federal government from “prohibiting the free exercise” of religion or “abridging the freedom of speech.” Correctly interpreted, the 1st Amendment prohibits the federal government, whether acting through Congress or the courts, from prohibiting the free exercise of religion by prayer or otherwise, in schools or elsewhere.
The 14th Amendment has been held to apply to the 1st Amendment to the states. State governments are prohibited from establishing a state church and from prohibiting the free exercise of religion. The concept that state governments that permit free exercise of religion are attempting to establish a state church is absurd. The idea that the 1st Amendment somehow protects people from feeling left out is even more ridiculous.
The nine “learned” justices have actually placed the federal government in the position of violating the Constitution by prohibiting the free exercise of religion and abridging the freedom of speech. The courts should not become involved in rulemaking with respect to religion, particularly when the rules attempt to prohibit the free exercise of religion by individuals. In other words, they should butt out.
