The very first clause of the nation’s Bill of Rights could not be clearer: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof....” Of course everybody understands that government should not stick its fingers into matters of faith. Why, then, does the First Amendment not go on to declare that religious institutions should not be involved in government affairs? Many people these days think such mixing would be a good thing. It’s almost too obvious to have to explain.

The drafters of the Constitution were scholars of history. They looked at the millennium leading up to 1787 and understood the mischief that results when church is not held at arm’s length from state. So why did they not codify that reverse case? For the very same reason that they saw no need to inform citizens that the sky is blue and grass is green. They displayed great confidence in the wisdom and common sense of the American people. Perhaps if they came back for a rewrite, they might feel the need to state what 237 years ago could go unstated.

William Politt

Weare