Saying secular government is incompatible with the First Amendment is like saying a steering wheel is incompatible with a car. Or that bread is incompatible with a sandwich. Or that stupidity is incompatible with the Trump administration.
"So the Department of Justice just released a draft of the Religious Liberty Commission report, and it is just as bad as you would think. Probably worse, actually. It equates secular government to discrimination against religious people, and calls it incompatible with the First Amendment. Huh? Sigh. So if you're a person with eyes and a brain, you might be thinking, wait a minute, isn't secular government literally in the First Amendment? You would be pretty much correct. The very first sentence of the First Amendment is Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion. So if the Commission's language feels 100% contradictory and backwards to you, don't worry, it feels that way to me, too, and that's because it is. It's just the sort of thing that you have to read multiple times to make sure that you're not having a stroke. The Commission also calls for providing tax-funded grants to religious institutions and appointing partisan judges who would rule in favor of religious institutions. If the blatant suggestions that the federal government violate the First Amendment were not tragically hilarious enough, the Commission also calls for the creation of something called the First Freedom Hero Awards. Look, secular government is not the exclusion of religious people. It is the establishment of neutrality. It is the even footing on which people of all different faiths, beliefs, and backgrounds can make their voices heard and build thriving communities. As a response to Trump's Religious Liberty Commission, we actually recently showcased a lot of these communities in our Religious Liberty for All report, which you can read now at the link in our bio. And Trump's report is actually open to public comments right now. It's on the Department of Justice website under Religious Liberty Commission resources. So if you feel inspired, let them know what you think. As our nation's 250th birthday approaches, I should also remind you that religious liberty and secular governance is baked into the foundation of this country. Don't let them tell you otherwise."
💬 Discussion
Saying secular government is incompatible with the First Amendment is like saying a steering wheel is incompatible with a car. Or that bread is incompatible with a sandwich. Or that stupidity is incompatible with the Trump administration.