“’As the civil leader of Peoria who took an oath of office to uphold the state and federal constitutions, which mandate a separation between church and state, you are not free to turn City Chambers into a prayer fest!’”  This sentence was supposedly written by the co-president of a group calling itself the Freedom from Religion Foundation.  It seems Peoria’s mayor despicably, according to this group, allowed some leaders of the community to pray in the council chambers.


I’m not going to waste more time giving any more of the details.  It amazes me how many don’t know the Constitution and say ridiculous things like the federal Constitution “mandates a separation between church and state.”  As I have said repeatedly, it’s simply not true!  Once more for anyone who can read, this is what the Constitution actually says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof….”  


That’s it!  Sum total of Amendment I in relation to religion.  If there is any one who should be reprimanded for violating the oath of office he/she took, it is the members of the U.S. Supreme Court who have illegally rewritten the Constitution by unconstitutional edict.  However, I don’t think the co-president will be writing a letter to the Supreme Court.


“The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination, shall forever be guaranteed, and no person shall be denied any civil or political right, privilege or capacity, on account of his religious opinions; but the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be construed to dispense with oaths or affirmations, excuse acts of licentiousness, or justify practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of the State.  No person shall be required to attend or support any ministry or place of worship against his consent, nor shall any preference be given by law to any religious denomination or mode of worship.” (Constitution of the State of Illinois, Article I—Bill of Rights, Section 3—Religious Freedom.)  


The above quote is taken directly from the State Constitution.  (It is a lot longer than the first Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.)  Surprise!  Surprise!  Not one word in relation to the separation of church and state!  Do you think maybe, that if the writers of the Constitution wanted to provide for the “separation of church and state” they might just write that phrase into the Constitution!  Maybe we should actually begin again to obey and uphold our Constitutions and not allow these small groups of individuals to control our rights because they don’t agree with the actions we take.  Why should their “rights” supersede our “rights” when they don’t have a constitutional leg to stand on?


I pray the mayor and council don’t back down on this and don’t allow a small minority to control that which is not theirs to control!