From: bdboyle@erenj.com (Bryan D. Boyle)
Subject: Re: Queens school board
Organization: Exxon Research and Engineering Co., NJ
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 23:03:17 GMT

In article <CATHOLIC%92121417304055@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU> Jim McIntosh <JIM@AMERICAN.EDU> writes:
>On Mon, 14 Dec 1992 13:21:20 PST J Scott Berg said:
>>I think your paragraph starts to focus in on the problem.  "Separation
>>of Church and State" is not what's happening in our government.  It's
>>becoming state-sponsored atheism.  When you refuse to allow anything
>>that has any relationship to religion into a government-related
>>activity, the government therefore is making a choice when it comes to
>>religion (more broadly, belief systems).  It says that any belief
>>system which does not acknowledge God as one of its tenets is
>>preferred in government institutions.  That is NOT separation of
>>church and state in my opinion.
>
>It's hard to say there's state-sponsored atheism when every piece of
>money in your pocket says "In God We Trust". Everytime the House or
>Senate comes into session they start with a prayer by one of their
>chaplains. Every session of the Supreme Court starts with a plea for God
>to bless this country "and this honorable court." I think every speach
>I've heard the present president give ended with "And may God bless the
>United States of America."
>
It is too bad that neither the politicians or jurists actually believe
those hollow mouthings.  If they did, perhaps their decisions would 
be more in line with that ringing hollow phrase that they mouth 
endlessly.
>What you DON'T have is government sponsorship of any particular religion
>or sect. You DON'T see crosses on public property erected with taxpayer
>dollars. You DON'T see taxpayer money going towards private schools
>dedicated to the furthering of one particular religion's faith.
>
>I understand that with the federal budget measured in the trillions of
>dollars, it is natural to want to grab part of it and use those tax
>dollars for the promotion of your particular church. It'd sure make
>running those schools or raising those crosses easier than if you
>actually had to pay for them yourselves.
>
>When I look at the mess in Europe or the middle East, though, I am
>continually amazed at the vision of our founding parents. The idea that
>religion could be separated from government has produced a country which
>is amazingly free from religious strife. It is a country where people of
>different faiths can worship side by side without trying to kill each
>other. 


Without killing each other?  I would posit that the LACK of religion
or faith or morals or whathaveyou is responsible for our violent
society, the wanton murder of the unborn, and a general "it's mine,
and I'll do what I want to..." attitude.  It is so sad that the 
biggest mouths spewing the "whatever is your choice is ok..." line
are the first to try and silence the PUBLIC proclamation of God's
word.  
 That's something that we should value in today's world, and
>not criticize lightly.
>


-- 
Bryan D. Boyle     |Opinions are mine, not Exxon's...
Senior Engineer    |PVT/ASEL/IA
bdboyle@erenj.com  |(908) 730 3338
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