“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;” — First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Certain recent Supreme Court decisions have embraced high-priority political objectives of conservative — primarily Christian Right — activists; justifying their opinions on “originalism” and questionable interpretations of the First Amendment. These range from empowering individuals and organizations to circumvent laws most Americans must obey (notably, Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission and Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania ); providing religious schools access to public tax dollars ( Carson v. Maki n), and eliminating abortion rights protections ( Dobbs v. Mississippi Department of Health ). Chillingly, more than one Associate Justice has openly signaled other unenumerated rights — currently enjoyed by and popular with millions of Americans, but which are in conflict with Christian Nationalist agendas — should be challenged…and would be warmly welcomed. Christian Nationalists, together with the Oath Keepers, Proud Boys and other domestic extremist groups that parade around in pseudo-uniforms waving American, MAGA, Trump and QAnon flags and chanting “USA! USA!” represent a dangerous, anti-democratic movement whose ideology abhors the separation of church and state and has […]
