There was something in the news recently about the illegality of the “mingling” of church and state. Can anyone show me where, either in the U.S. Constitution or in any penal code, religion is banned from government?

The Bill of Rights in the Constitution simply says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof: or abridging . . .” Notice that it specifically says there can be no “prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Prohibiting “the exercise thereof” would be like telling a person they aren’t allowed to pray or can’t display the Ten Commandments.

What has been allowed to happen is religion has been banned from government, against which there is no law. But the exercise of religion is prohibited, which definitely is illegal according to the Constitution. So the right of religion has been turned on its head.

Why can criminals in federal prisons not only be allowed to pray but be given a Quran, prayer rug and have the direction of Mecca pointed out to them, but students in public schools can’t even utter the word “God”? Obviously, if there is a law against “mingling” church and state, it’s being very selectively applied.

Ron Haugen

Weaver