O'Connor's law: church-state separation has served us well.Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor Sandra Day O'Connor (born March 26 1930) is an American jurist who served as the first female Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1981 to 2006. She was considered a strict constructionist. has always been plain spoken. A few weeks ago, she offered some blunt words about the relationship between religion and government. "I do think we're lucky in this country," she said. "We have generally kept religion a matter of individual conscience and not a matter for the prosecutor or bureaucrat." Speaking to an audience of 400 in Williamsburg, Va., the former justice assailed the idea that government should have greater authority to promote Christianity. In countries where the majority faith has government support, she noted, minorities are often persecuted. She pointed to a recent incident in Afghanistan where a man was sentenced to death for converting from Islam to Christianity. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the Richmond Times-Dispatch The Richmond Times-Dispatch (RTD or TD for short) is the primary daily newspaper in Richmond, Virginia the capital of Virginia, and is commonly considered the "newspaper of record" for events occurring in much of the state. , O'Connor, a Reagan appointee APPOINTEE. A person who is appointed or selected for a particular purpose; as the appointee under a power, is the person who is to receive the benefit of the trust or power. to the high court, said separation of church and state
"Why should we trade our system that has served us so well for one that has served others so poorly?" she asked. O'Connor, who is serving in the ceremonial post of chancellor of the College of William and Mary Noun 1. William and Mary - joint monarchs of England; William III and Mary II this year, conceded that the wall of separation between religion and government has not always followed a straight path. She jokingly compared it to Thomas Jefferson's curving "serpentine wall" at the University of Virginia. But sire said she is thankful, nonetheless, for a Constitution that protects the free exercise of religion while forbidding government endorsement of any faith. O'Connor's Oct. 7 lecture and discussion in Colonial Williamsburg's Kimball Theatre was sponsored by William & Mary Law School's Institute of Bill of Rights Law The Institute of Bill of Rights Law (IBRL) is one of the most renowned centers for the study of constitutional law in the world. Located at the College of William & Mary School of Law (Marshall-Wythe) in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States, the IBRL focuses on enhancing a . Those who have followed Supreme Court law over the years know that O'Connor's record on the nation's top judicial bench was far from perfect. But her firm commitment to the general principle of church-state separation is welcome. We are especially pleased to see such direct comments from a former Republican state legislator. Support for church-state separation should be nonpartisan. Republicans, Democrats, Greens, Independents and political activists across the spectrum ought to rally to this vital cause. |
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