The First Amendment and Religious Freedom

We have recently had some media coverage of the Catholic Church and the White House.  It is concerning contraception, but is really about religious freedom in my opinion.

What does the first amendment say?  It is quite clear.  It simply stares:

“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.”

        That is pretty simple and straightforward.  It clearly states that people have the right to express their religion without interference from the Federal Government. 

        We have the right to display crosses in public places.  We have the right to celebrate Christmas, Easter, Passover, and many more.  We have the right to put “In God We Trust” on our money.  We have the right to say “One nation under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance.

        Any action by the Federal Government to restrict any of these things or any other expression of faith is a clear violation of the First Amendment in my opinion. 

        Our founders wanted to make sure the Federal Government did not restrict or control religious expression in any way.  They DID NOT want to keep religion out of government. 

Did you know that all of the original thirteen colonies had an official state-supported religion from 1702 to 1776?  They did not want to keep religion out of government.  They just wanted to make sure the Federal Government did not restrict the free expression of religion.  By 1850 only four states still had a state-supported religion. 

        We often hear about “Separation of Church and State.”  This is clearly not the intent or what the First Amendment says.  Where did this statement come from? 

        This quote is from a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury, Connecticut Baptists in 1802.  The letter is basically assuring these Baptists that the Federal Government will never restrict their religious expression, as our Federal Government is now doing. 

        I wonder how those people that want to take away the right of Christians to express their religion would like to lose their freedom of speech.  BOTH are clearly guaranteed under the same First Amendment. 

        I do not understand how people can justify taking away someone’s freedom of expression just because they may disagree with that view.  They would complain bloody murder if they were restricted in expressing their own beliefs. 

Christians founded this country.  I think it is time we observe the First Amendment and stop restricting the rights of Christians to express their religion.