Dear Editor:
Your April 20 commentary regarding "perspective and endorsement" made a timely contribution to understanding the constitutional principle respecting religion: For example, the significance of an Easter egg depends on the viewpoint of each individual American whether Atheist, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim or etc.
Regardless of individual viewpoint, the Constitution prohibits any endorsement, establishment, or requirement of religion by government. In America citizens of all religions, or of none, are welcome to participate freely in all of its social and political functions.
The Founding Fathers and the members of the First Congress knew government was the essence of coercion; thus, unlike some countries in the world, America is a nation wherein support of religion is voluntary and cannot be established by law or government at any level: "No religious test shall ever be required" (Art. 6.) and "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" (First Amendment). Or, as expressed by James Madison, "Strongly guarded ... is the separation between Religion and Government in the Constitution" (William and Mary Quarterly, 3:555).
Separation between Caesar and God was emphatically made recently by those folks of Galena, Kansas, who appropriately placed symbolic crosses in their private yards. What individual Americans are allowed to do on private property is constitutionally distinguished from what is allowed on property owned by Americans of all religions and none.
On April 11, 2003, the Supreme Court of Utah ruled government sponsored events cannot impose religion without including all religions, including atheists. Salt Lake City properly ended its practice of scheduled vocal "prayer" at city council meetings.
Gene Garman
Copyright 2003 Gene Garman