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Constitution Check: Are the states’ “Blaine Amendments” on shaky ground?

danarhea

danarhea

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Among the proposed changes that never made it into the Constitution was the “Blaine Amendment,” proposed by a member of Congress from Maine in 1875 at the suggestion of President Ulysses S. Grant. The key language was this: “No money raised by taxation in any state for the support of public schools, or derived from any fund therefor, nor any public lands devoted thereto, shall ever be under the control of any religious sect; nor shall any money so raised or lands so devoted be divided between religious sect or denominations.”
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Although the Blaine Amendment was never written into the Constitution, 36 states have adopted versions of it. Now the Supreme Court gets to look at those laws and decide whether or not they are Constitutional. This will end up being a landmark ruling on a First Amendment issue.

My opinion is that, although our forefathers built a wall of separation between the church and state, I don't see a problem with churches getting government money for programs that do not promote religion. At the heart of the issue is a religious school that wants to provide improvement to their playground. Here's the deal. The playground might be part of the religious school, but they make it available to ALL children, and thus are NOT promoting religion. They should be able to do it without being discriminated against. And, yes, when they are not allowed to compete with other organizations on an even playing field, even when they are following the rules, it IS discrimination.

What say you?

Article is here.
 
danarhea said:
Although the Blaine Amendment was never written into the Constitution, 36 states have adopted versions of it. Now the Supreme Court gets to look at those laws and decide whether or not they are Constitutional. This will end up being a landmark ruling on a First Amendment issue.

My opinion is that, although our forefathers built a wall of separation between the church and state, I don't see a problem with churches getting government money for programs that do not promote religion. At the heart of the issue is a religious school that wants to provide improvement to their playground. Here's the deal. The playground might be part of the religious school, but they make it available to ALL children, and thus are NOT promoting religion. They should be able to do it without being discriminated against. And, yes, when they are not allowed to compete with other organizations on an even playing field, even when they are following the rules, it IS discrimination.

What say you?

Article is here.
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It is very dubious to allow tax money go to any given church in any way or purpose. Possibly one could subsidize every church at the same rate, but even then one would have to find some accommodation for atheists. And how do you want to differentiate between small religious congregations and tax frauds? What might work would be for government to buy the asset and let any group that can show competence run it. That would eliminate unequal treatment of citizens or groupings thereof.
 
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