Church Quote by Hugo Black

The Establishment Clause . . . stands as an expression of principle on the part of the Founders . . . that religion is…

— Hugo Black

The Establishment Clause prohibits government from making adherence to a religion relevant in any way to a person's standing in the political community.

— Sandra Day O'Connor

The "establishment of religion" clause of the First Amendment means at least this: Neither a state nor the Federal Government can set up a…

— Hugo Black

With respect to public acknowledgment of religious belief, it is entirely clear from our nation's historical practices that the Establishment Clause permits this disregard…

— Antonin Scalia

Approving some religious claims while deeming others unworthy of accommodation could be 'perceived as favoring one religion over another,' the very 'risk the [Constitution's]…

— Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Under the First Amendment's prohibition of the establishment of religion, the Court has steadily made religion a matter for the private individual by driving…

— Robert Bork

The Free Exercise Clause at the very least was designed to guarantee freedom of conscience by prohibiting any degree of compulsion in matters of…

— Harry A. Blackmun

[T]he bill exceeds the rightful authority to which governments are limited by the essential distinction between civil and religious functions, and violates in particular…

— James Madison

The Constitution of the U.S. forbids everything like an establishment of a national religion.

— James Madison

“ Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or…

— United States Congress

“When the First Amendment was finally approved, it contained two separate clauses on religion, each with an independent scope of action. The first clause…

— David Barton

This is perhaps the most important statement on religion ever made. It clarified the intent of the founders of the constitution irrespective of the…

— Thomas Jefferson