Dear Editor,
We were taken aback by a letter to the editor on Feb. 24 titled "Make Bible part of school curriculum." According to the writer, an unnamed group is circulating a petition encouraging the Danville school board to include the Bible in the high school curriculum. We would encourage this group and the school board to look closely at what the Supreme Court has to say about separation of church and state.
The "establishment of religion" clause of the First Amendment means at least this: Neither a state nor the federal government can set up a church. Neither can pass laws which aid one religion, aid all religions or prefer one religion over another. No tax in any amount, large or small, can be levied to support any religious activities or institutions, whatever they may be called, or whatever form they may adopt to teach or practice religion. Neither a state nor the federal government can, openly or secretly, participate in the affairs of any religious organizations or groups and vice versa. In the words of Jefferson, the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to erect "a wall of separation between Church and State." 330 U.S. 1, 15-16.
