XPost: alt.america, alt.politics.religion, alt.politics.usa.constitution   
   XPost: misc.education   
   From: user@nowhere.com   
      
   On 10/20/2010 6:06 PM, Peter Franks wrote:   
   > On 10/20/2010 12:11 PM, Abel wrote:   
   >> Separation of church and state refers to the limits our Constitution   
   >> places on the power of the government (both federal and state) to   
   >> legislate about religion....   
   >   
   > "*Congress* shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,   
   > or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;" (emphasis added)   
   >   
   > Congress refers to the federal body organized and authorized in Article   
   > I of the Constitution.   
   >   
   > Can you point out where the term "Congress" mutates to "government"?   
   >   
   > Can you point out where the this specific limit in Amendment I is   
   > extended to the states?   
      
   Are you arguing the states can prohibit the free exercise of religion   
   (e.g., criminalize Judaism)?  or abridge the freedom of speech and the   
   press (e.g., shut down a newspaper it disagrees with)?  or abridge the   
   right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the   
   Government for a redress of grievances (e.g., imprison Tea Party   
   protesters)?   
      
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    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)