As an American, one shouldn’t need reminding of the civil liberties that we enjoy. Ostensibly, we as citizens read the Constitution in school, either in Civics or U.S. Government, and each amendment in the Bill of Rights is picked clean apart.
Well, no, it turns out that some people, such as one Roy Moore, still need reminding after all.
For those who need a quick debrief, here’s the amendment in full:
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.
Justice Moore’s intent is clearly to narrow the definition of “religion” until it encompasses nothing but the narrow Protestant definition of Christianity that he follows. There’s ample precedent in our history of those who would narrow the scope of the Constitution to whatever is most convenient for them. “Oh no, it doesn’t apply to them! It only cover rich, white, Protestant men like myself!”
I have a personal beef in this as I, as a Unitarian, probably don’t fall under his narrow concept of what “religion” constitutes. Yes, several founding fathers were Unitarians, but today’s UU church is way different than the quirky, heretical yet thoroughly Christian church of the 18th century.
Well, Justice Moore, your game won’t work. Time just isn’t on your side. Sooner or later, you and the other cool, considerate men that are your contemporaries eventually lose.