Chairman’s Desk - Mr. Jefferson's "Wall"
By Beverly LaHaye
September/October 2000 Family Voice

In a contentious religious liberty case last spring, the U.S. Supreme Court voted in favor of parochial and Christian schools using government funds to purchase computers and books. The two swing votes that made the difference were Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Stephen Breyer. While they voted with the majority, they wrote a separate opinion, sternly warning against any future direct support of religious activities, since that would jeopardize the infamous “wall” between church and state.

In other words, Jefferson said the First Amendment could not be used to disband the state church of Connecticut! Connecticut taxpayers supported the state church for at least 15 years under the First Amendment.

The founders of this country wisely created a federalist government—that is, a government of limited power. The Constitution specifically lists areas under the U.S. government’s authority; all other matters are to be under the state’s authority. Because the Constitution gave no authority to the U.S. government to regulate religion, those matters were left to the individual states.

But in the last 50 years, the courts have consistently used the “wall between church and state” to strike down religious influence in the public arena. The turning point came in 1947’s Everson v. Board of Education. The Court ruled that any encouragement of religion by government is unconstitutional. To support this ruling, Justice Black wrote that Mr. Jefferson’s “wall [of separation] ... must be kept high and impregnable.” But Mr. Jefferson’s statement intended to keep federal government out of the states’ business. Instead, this one ruling effectively banned religion from public life.

In 1998, however, forensic experts with the FBI examined the original draft of Mr. Jefferson’s letter to the Danbury Baptists. They wanted to help scholars with the Library of Congress determine the letter’s true intent. With the use of computer technology, they were able to read portions of the letter that Mr. Jefferson had previously scratched out.

They found the edited portions further support that Mr. Jefferson did not intend government restriction of religious expression in the public arena. For example, he originally wrote, “[B]e assured that your religious rights shall never be infringed by any act of mine. ...”

Friends, this issue is critical. Because of misguided decisions by judges, our government has taken a position hostile to religion in America. I imagine if Thomas Jefferson were alive today, he would be horrified to learn how his letter has been misinterpreted and misused to erase religious influence in public places.

The future of our religious liberties could be at stake. I encourage you to get involved to ensure that our legislators—and our next president—understand its importance. Call our national office to find out how you can join your area’s Prayer/Action Chapter! A number of states across the country have proposed measures within their legislatures to allow the posting of the Ten Commandments in public places. Other states are considering laws to allow time for student-led prayers in the schools. With your help, we can see these proposals become reality.

I hope you will stand with us as CWA continues to push for laws and policies that support our religious speech and liberties. Over the years, liberal judges and legislatures have reinterpreted our Founding Fathers’ intent regarding religion in the public arena. Jefferson even faithfully attended church services held in the U.S. Capitol after he wrote the Danbury letter.

Now Christians exist in a country where many fear to even speak of their beliefs in a public forum. We must remember that we have the freedom to worship God and speak freely of Him. Our government was founded on the belief that those freedoms should be respected—not restricted.

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