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Letter: Jefferson defined ‘separation’

The Columbian
Published: April 3, 2012, 5:00pm

In Jane Sturm’s March 27 letter, “Religion is a personal matter,” she stated that, “The First Amendment wisely created a wall of separation between church and state.”

Not true.

The First Amendment says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” This was enacted to protect churches from government interference and to prohibit the establishment of a state church.

Thomas Jefferson used this “wall of separation” statement as a reassurance to the Danbury Baptist Association when he was president in 1802.

Sturm also stated, “Traditional marriage means nothing more than a culture passed from one generation to another.” The Bible, specifically Genesis 1:27-28 and Genesis 2:21-24, proves that traditional marriage is not “a culture passed from one generation to another.”

Marriage between a man and a woman was instituted in the beginning by our Creator. Marriage was not just cultural, but instead was established by God.

Sturm is using a lack of religious faith to justify prejudice against people of faith and their deeply held religious beliefs. Referendum 74 (proposing to overturn legislation allowing same-sex marriage) neither denies citizens equal treatment nor freedom.

Karen L. Cole

Vancouver

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