Episodes
Wednesday Jul 08, 2015
Wednesday Jul 08, 2015
The Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma in a 7-2 decision ordered the monument of the 10 Commandments be removed from the grounds of the Capitol. Governor Mary Fallin has refused to remove it while her and several legislators work to amend the constitution in such a way as to allow the state sponsoring of religion.
Today's Freedom Report podcast takes aim at the issue of the separation of church and state. Is it unconstitutional for the 10 commandments to be placed on the grounds? A public official paid for the monument with his own private money, but the constitution of the state of Oklahoma reads:
“No public money or property shall ever be appropriated, applied, donated, or used, directly or indirectly, for the use, benefit, or support of any sect, church, denomination, or system of religion, or for the use, benefit, or support of any priest, preacher, minister, or other religious teacher or dignitary, or sectarian institution as such,” according to the Oklahoma Constitution.
That may be why legislators are seeking to put a vote to the public which would strike that section of the constitution, leaving the door open for the state to be able to directly fund and support any religion they choose. But does the federal U.S. Constitution outlaw that? The answer is yes, and no. Our show today breaks down why.
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