The Separation of Church and State

The Separation of Church and State

I have heard quite a few well-meaning and educated people talk about the separation of church and state. I have even heard them say that this is a clause in the Constitution of the United States.

The invocation of the "Separation of Church and State" "clause", is almost always raised as an opposition to a challenge by an individual or a group of individuals to an existing or pending Governmental policy. If the challenge is based on religious doctrines or ideals, many will argue that the collective voice of a "church" or "religious group" should not be allowed to influence public policy.

Okay, so what exactly does the Constitutition say?

Here it is, in the Bill of Rights, the First Amendment, also known as the Establishment Clause, it reads:

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.

Is this what we are talking about?

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.... ...or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

It appears to me that many well-meaning people have this all backwards. The Bill of Rights, describes the rights of the people. It was not meant to separate the "Church" (a group of people), or the people from anything, specifically the right to speak against a policy of the Government.