Myth: The Constitution states that there must be a wall of separation between the Church and State.
Truth: The Constitution reflects the founders respect for the importance of the morality of people and the need to keep the state, which is another word for government, out of the area of religion. The modern concept of a Wall of Separation, reverses the intended meaning of the Establishment Clause and seeks instead to keep religion out of schools and public places. This is completely the opposite of what the clear wording of the Constitution states.
The Constitution states in the First Amendment that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” The wall of separation between Church and State was an idea that Thomas Jefferson wrote about in a letter that has been used by the Supreme Court in a number of cases, thus the idea of a wall of separation has become officially accepted by the United States Federal Government but it is not literally in the Constitution.
The idea that somehow Jefferson was for removing religion from public places is completely wrong as Jefferson who came up with the idea of the “wall of separation between Church and State” created a day for “publick and solemn thanksgiving and prayer to Almighty God” during his time as governor. Religious observances have always been a part of federal events, including inaugurations of the presidents. Jefferson’s letter was meant merely to ensure people that the government was not going to interfere in their religious affairs. It by no means agrues that there cannot be religious observances in public places, or that public individuals cannot make professions of faith, but rather that the government itself does not make a unified effort to encourage one particular religious view.
A good opinion article on this topic by Bill Flax can be found here.
