The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states – 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. As we celebrated Independence Day this week, my mind was drawn to the founding of our country. We learned in elementary school that the Pilgrims came to the American continent in large part to find religious freedom. More than 100 years later, in establishing a new country, that desire for religious freedom was so fundamental that it was the first right established. Perhaps less well known is the inclusion of the following in Article VI – no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States. I love these concepts. I love these fundamentals. I love that the freedom of religion was so important that it had to be included in the foundation of the country. I love that even today, the freedom to worship as we see fit or to not worship at all […]
