With moralists worried about the growing separation between church and state, it seems that more and more legal battles are being fought in court not necessarily over human rights but over whether or not human rights are to be defined by religious terms. Examples that instantly come into many minds are the prayer in school issue and the deep division over the abortion issue. Under the Constitution we are guaranteed the freedom of religion but our founding fathers also knew, from lessons learned in England that there must be a separation between church and state.
This is to allow a broad freedom of religion by keeping politics from shading which system of belief we choose. But where do we draw the line between religious rights and human rights which are also guaranteed in the Constitution? It is now very confusing to find that thin line which separates total division of powers and rights opposed to a balance between church and state. Hopefully our lawmakers will be as prudent as those of the past in deciding the future policies of the nation. Hopefully they can reach a compromise that doesn't hamper our personal rights and still follows that insightful Constitution which was provided to us to lead this nation into the future.
[© 2002 Joseph Wheeler, all rights reserved]