Religious freedom is guaranteed

By Gary Jeffyres

Published Sunday, May 11, 2008

Ken Hughes said, "Racism was repudiated at the very beginning by the phrase all men are created equal. It's disheartening that so many Americans can't seem to accept that idea and choose instead to argue over freedom of religion, a phrase that does not appear anywhere in the Declaration or Constitution."

Let me disabuse anyone who believes that the notion of Freedom of Religion is not mentioned in the Constitution.

The Bill of Rights, consisting of the first 10 amendments, are part and parcel part of our Constitution.

Following the first paragraph of the First Amendment we find the phrase "or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;" this said in reference to religion.

What part of free exercise of religion does not clearly mean Freedom of Religion?

While not specifically mentioned in the Declaration of Independence, "free men" is mentioned in the sentence, "A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people."

You can find the pertinent documents in our local library, or if not there at http://www.foundingfathers.info.

A free people includes the freedom to practice religion unfettered by the laws of the Tyrant, in this case King George.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist or a philosopher to figure this out, but it does take a peculiar form of delusion to deny it.

Gary Jeffryes
Paradise