WASHINGTON — Tom Alexander holds a cross Wednesday outside the U.S. Supreme Court building in on Wednesday as he prays prior to key rulings involving religion. [Patrick Semansky/The Associated Press] Patrick Semansky Hide caption Remember civics class … and not paying attention? These days, we need that civics lesson more than ever. Question: The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on state funding for religious schools confuses me. What does the Constitution actually say about religion? Answer: The U.S. Constitution does not say much directly. Article 6: Clause 3 states that ”…No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.” Religion is mentioned again in the 1st Amendment, where we find many of the rights that we defend and debate today. The 1st Amendment restricts government from infringing on speech, the press, petitioning government for redress, and peaceable assembly. Those freedoms and the limitations on them are the subject of a great deal of debate and case law. The 1st Amendment also speaks to two distinct issues regarding religion. First, it protects the free exercise of religion, and second it prohibits the government from establishing a religion. The second […]
