JUSTICE JOSEPH STORY, ON RELIGION - AFA Journal May 1990, p. 19

The 1st Amendment reads: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

The original intent was that while government should not grant any special privileges to any one denomination, it should generally help Christianity. This is clearly expressed in the historical documents. For example, Justice Joseph Story, who served on the Supreme Court from 1811 to 1845, wrote:

"Probably at the time of the adoption of the Constitution, and of the 1st amendment to it... the general if not universal sentiment was, that Christianity ought to receive encouragement from the state so far as was not incompatible with the private rights of conscience and the freedom of religious worship

*** The real object of the amendment was... to prevent any national ecclesiastical establishment which should give to a hierarchy the exclusive patronage of the national government."

VALEDICTORIAN CENSURED (same source, page 5)

Moss Bluff, Louisiana, 1987. Angela Kaye Guidry was scheduled to graduate with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. She was selected valedictorian of the graduating class of Sam Houston High School. For the last 13 years, graduating seniors had enjoyed unfettered freedom to share their own personal views in their valediction, or as that term means in Latin, their "personal bidding of farewell." In this regard, Angela's valediction was no different than those of her predecessors. Hers, however, read like this: "To me, the most important thing in your life today is not whether you have a good education or a good job, but whether or not you have the LORD Jesus Christ in your life." The day before she was to deliver this speech, the principal censored Angela's valediction. The school's sole reason - to allow this valediction would violate the so-called separation of church and state. I (Larry L. Cain of the Rutherford Institute) argued this case before the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in January. During oral argument, my adversary remarked, "Your Honors, this is not a mere free speech case. Ms. Guidry was preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

GOVERNMENT APPROVAL OF HOMOSEXUALS - AFA Journal, May 1990, p. 3

Our federal government has produced publications which wreak of anti-Christian bigotry. A youth suicide report that states, "Religions need to reassess homosexuality in a positive context... they need to accept gay youth and make a place for them in the church." Or an AIDS study that declares, "Churches, whose involvement in stigma has historically been great... can preach an enlightened view (about homosexuality) and demand of their adherents sympathy and justice."

MIKHAIL GORBACHEV ON RELIGION - AFA Journal May 1990 , p. 2

It is both marvelous and sad that Mikhail Gorbachev has been forced to admit, "Now we not only proceed from the assumption that no one should interfere in matters of individual conscience; we also say that the moral values that religion generated and embodied for centuries can help in the work of renewal in our country."

GREAT LEADERS ON BIBLE - (same source page 9)

George Washington said, "It is impossible to govern rightly without God and the Bible."

James Madison said, "We have staked the whole future of American civilization not upon the power of government. Far from it. We have staked the future on the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, control ourselves, and to sustain ourselves according to the 10 Commandments of God."

Alexis de Tocqueville said, "I do not know whether all Americans have a sincere faith in their religion. But I am certain that they hold it to be indispensable to the maintenance of public institutions."

SWEDEN'S FAILED WELFARE SOCIALISM STATE see R.Digest 9/91 p.100ff.