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To: Amendment10

Read the VA statute on religious liberty, which Jefferson also penned. It sums up Jefferson's views nicely. The pertinent section reads:

Be it enacted by General Assembly that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief, but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of Religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge or affect their civil capacities. And though we well know that this Assembly elected by the people for the ordinary purposes of Legislation only, have no power to restrain the acts of succeeding Assemblies constituted with powers equal to our own, and that therefore to declare this act irrevocable would be of no effect in law; yet we are free to declare, and do declare that the rights hereby asserted, are of the natural rights of mankind, and that if any act shall be hereafter passed to repeal the present or to narrow its operation, such act will be an infringement of natural right.


59 posted on 08/27/2006 6:33:20 PM PDT by Melas (Offending stupid people since 1963)
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To: Melas
"...no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods.."

Since government institutions are financed by the money of the citizens, would this not also preclude government funding to religions institutions or the use of government property for housing of religious displays?

That would in fact be compelling the "burdening the goods" of a person through the use of their tax dollars.
62 posted on 08/27/2006 6:43:18 PM PDT by ndt
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To: Melas

I just realized I might have misinterpreted your aim in your post.


63 posted on 08/27/2006 6:46:10 PM PDT by ndt
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