It is unconstitutional for local, state or federal
governments to favor one religion over another?
Government can show favoritism toward religion by
displaying religious symbols in public places
at taxpayer expense, by sponsoring events like Christmas
concerts, caroling, or by supporting the teaching of
religious ideas. It appears the United States
government has had a history of favoring Christianity.
The United States government's favoritism of Christianity
is a clear violation of the First Amendment. This amendment
states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
There is another reference to religion in Article 6,
Section 3. This clause states "the United States and the several
States shall be bound by oath or affirmation to support this Constitution,
but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any
office or public trust under the United States."
There have been several court cases on this and related issues
which include Engel vs. Vitale, Everson vs. the Board of Education,
and Lynch vs. Donnelly, the "Creche case".
In 1947, in the Everson vs. Board of Education
case, the Supreme Court ruled that the 14th amendment
prevented the States and the and the Federal government
from setting up a church, passing laws that favor any religion, or
using tax money to support any religion. Justice Hugo Black
"incorporated" the First Amendment's establishment clause into the
14th Amendment which states that "the State shall not deny any
person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of laws and due
process. After this tr ...