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Erik Stanley: Pulpit freedom in America?s infancy

By Alliance Alert

ADF Attorney Erik Stanley writing at Speak Up Movement / University: "You can read Mr. Johnson's actual letter to James Madison online here. I have a couple of thoughts in response to this. First, I find it interesting to note that it was pastors who provided the impetus, at least in part, for the First Amendment, and specifically the protection of religious freedom. Pastors have always been at the forefront of the great social and moral issues facing America and this is just one more example. Second, as [former Judge Mike McConnell] notes, it was only after pastors pressured Madison that he switched his position to support a provision that would later become the First Amendment. This little vignette from American history demonstrates just how much of an impact pastors can have on American life. And this is just one story in a mountain of historical evidence of the positive impact pastors have had on American history."

Full post as published by Constitutionally Correct on June 22, 2010 (boomark / email).