tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402705924308796713.post2515544175429436594..comments2023-09-01T06:47:49.231-05:00Comments on First Amendment Religion Clauses: Opinion of Congress, 1853History Mattershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04564109406277635090noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402705924308796713.post-21228788356999057912008-03-10T09:06:00.000-05:002008-03-10T09:06:00.000-05:00crypticlife:Your first paragraph is correct as far...crypticlife:<BR/><BR/>Your first paragraph is correct as far a legal authority. However, I still think it is instructive to look at the opinions of those closer to the signing than we are today. For example, when I quote the following words of James Madison, considered the father of the Constitution:<BR/><BR/>"The First Amendment was prompted because the people feared one sect might obtain preeminence, or two combine together and establish a religion to which they would compel others to conform."<BR/><BR/>it is just to give background. That particular statement by Madison has no legal power, but it is useful (to me at least) to know what he thought.<BR/><BR/>And your last paragraph is an excellent point. I have modified the introduction to this post accordingly. I'm not trying to slight the importance of the debate over the "free exercise" clause; it is just not usually the focus of this blog because it is so often ignored in favor of the establishment clause when people invoke the "separation of church and state" metaphor.<BR/><BR/>As always, thanks for your insightHistory Mattershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04564109406277635090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402705924308796713.post-49649513185463410592008-03-10T09:01:00.000-05:002008-03-10T09:01:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.History Mattershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04564109406277635090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402705924308796713.post-45685090789067273232008-03-10T08:51:00.000-05:002008-03-10T08:51:00.000-05:00Congress does not have authority to interpret the ...Congress does not have authority to interpret the Constitution. Congress is moved by politics, the idea behind giving the authority to the SC was to limit the effect of politics.<BR/><BR/>If Congress could, it would trample over every single right of the minority.<BR/><BR/>I'd also note that your assertion that the debate is only about the establishment clause is false -- given the number of prisoner "free exercise" cases that crop up there's plenty of debate regarding the free exercise clause as well.CrypticLifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05313033952671292402noreply@blogger.com