Church and State
Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy
Rabbi Judd Kruger Levingston, Ph.D.
jlevingston@jbha.org, 610.922.2338
Classroom expectations:
Pen or pencil, binder, paper for notes, kippah (yes)
No gum. No food. Water bottles are OK and encouraged!
Be prepared to talk, think, write, have fun
This class will be graded on a P/F basis
Introductory topics and background:
The founding of the Commonwealth of PA and the role of religion
Religion in the early Republic
The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution – essential passages
The “Wall of Separation between Church and State”
Cases:
Wall of Separation:
1. Breach of wall of separation: Everson v. Board of Education 330 US 1 (1947)
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1940-1949/1946/1946_52
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=330&invol=1
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0330_0001_ZS.html
2. Taxpayer support for a school offering religious instruction
McCollum v. Board of Education 333 US 203 (1948)
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1940-1949/1947/1947_90
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=333&invol=203
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0333_0203_ZS.html
3. Wall of separation applies to states and federal govt.:
Abington v. Schempp 374 US 203 (1963)
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1960-1969/1962/1962_142
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=374&invol=203
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0374_0203_ZS.html
4. Great wall of separation:
Lemon v. Kurtzman 403 US 602 (1971)
Oral argument: http://www.oyez.org/cases/1970-1979/1970/1970_89
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=403&invol=602
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0403_0602_ZS.html
5. Older cases:
Runkel v. Winemiller (1799), Christianity is the established religion and the Court will
support a church’s own efforts to enforce its own rules
http://candst.tripod.com/case01.htm
Name__________________________
Church and State – Fall 2010/5771 – Levingston, p. 2
School law:
6. Teacher not allowed to have a Bible visible on desk:
Roberts v. Madigan 921 F. 2nd 1047 (10th Cir. 1990)
http://ftp.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F2/921/921.F2d.1047.89-1014.html
7. School prayer: Engel v. Vitale 370 US 421 (1962)
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1960-1969/1961/1961_468
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=370&invol=421
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0370_0421_ZS.html
8. Moment of silence: Wallace v. Jaffree 472 US 38 (1985)
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1980-1989/1984/1984_83_812
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=472&invol=38
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0472_0038_ZS.html
9. Lee v. Weisman 12 S. Ct. 2649 (1992)
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1990-1999/1991/1991_90_1014
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/amendment01/01.html
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=505&invol=577
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/90-1014.ZS.html
10. Prayer before a football game in Santa Fe, NM: Santa Fe Independent School
District v. Doe (99-62) 530 US 290 (2000), 168 F. 3d 806, affirmed
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1990-1999/1999/1999_99_62
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/99-62.ZS.html
11. Private religionists schooling – Amish leaving school after grade 8
Wisconsin v. Yoder 406 US 205 (1972)
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1970-1979/1971/1971_70_110/
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=406&invol=205
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0406_0205_ZO.html
12. Scientific Creationism v. Evolution: Epperson v. Arkansas 393 US 97 (1968)
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1960-1969/1968/1968_7
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=393&invol=97
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0393_0097_ZS.html
13. Scientific Creationism v. Evolution: Edwards v. Aguillard 482 US 578 (1987)
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1980-1989/1986/1986_85_1513
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?navby=search&friend=%3C%FRIEND
%%3E&linkurl=%3C%LINKURL%%3E&graphurl=%3C%GRAPHURL%%3E&court=US
&case=/data/us/482/578.html
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0482_0578_ZO.html
14. Prayer in the Nebraska state legislature:
Marsh v. Chambers 463 US 893 (1983):
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1980-1989/1982/1982_82_23
Name__________________________
Church and State – Fall 2010/5771 – Levingston, p. 3
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0463_0783_ZO.html
Private religious expression in public sphere:
15. Native American Peyote use:
Employment Division, Dept of Human Resources v. Smith 494 US 872 (1990)
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1980-1989/1989/1989_88_1213/
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=494&invol=872
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0494_0872_ZO.html
16. Kippah in the military: Goldman v. Weinberger 475 US 503 (1986)
45 U.S.C. 774 amended by Pub L No. 100-80 (Dec 4, 1987)
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1980-1989/1985/1985_84_1097
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=475&invol=503
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0475_0503_ZO.html
17. Employee refuses to work for religious traditional views:
Frazee v. Illinois Department of Employment 489 US 829, 835 (1989)
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=489&invol=829
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0489_0829_ZS.html
18. Private school vouchers: Zelman v. Simmons-Harris 536 US 639 (2002)
http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2001/2001_00_1751
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=000&invol=00-1751
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/00-1751.ZS.html
Public religious expressions and public intrusions on private expressions
19. Ten Commandments in schools and in public (reference Harrisburg
Statehouse):
Stone v. Graham 449 US 39 (1980)
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1980-1989/1980/1980_80_321
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=449&invol=39
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0449_0039_ZD.html
20. Christmas displays and public interest: Lynch v. Donnely 465 US 668 (1984)
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1980-1989/1983/1983_82_1256
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=465&invol=668
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0465_0668_ZO.html
21. Road-building on Indian lands:
Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association 485 US 439 (1988)
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1980-1989/1987/1987_86_1013/
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=485&invol=439
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0485_0439_ZS.html
Name__________________________
Church and State – Fall 2010/5771 – Levingston, p. 4
Moral issues in society that bridge religion and the government:
22. Assisted suicide: The 1994 Oregon Death with Dignity Act: Gonzales v.
Oregon 546 US 243 (2006)
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/17/politics/politicsspecial1/18scotuscnd.html
http://www.deathwithdignity.org/historyfacts/gonzalesvoregon.asp
http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2005/2005_04_623
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=000&invol=04-623
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/04-623.ZS.html
23. Abortion: Roe s. Wade 410 US 113 (1973)
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1970-1979/1971/1971_70_18
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=410&invol=113
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0410_0113_ZS.html
24. End of life support: transfusions, Terry Schiavo
http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/ops/200511556.pdf
25. The next frontier: charter schools
Classes in Jewish culture and Hebrew language in charter schools
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/mt-preview88d6e00d3419f4d6a3189c7f8124c578deaefd95.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/25/nyregion/25hebrew.html
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/01/18/2009-0118_new_school_flunks_unity_test_hebrewlangu.html
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/education/20100601_Hebrewlanguage_charter_school_proposed_for_Center_City.html
What happens when moral issues are deeply compelling and they still have a religious
basis: are there any objections to “I have a dream” by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?
http://www.mlkonline.net/dream.html
Documents, Resources:
James Madison on the establishment of a state religion:
http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/sacred/madison_m&r_1785.html
Who does not see that the same authority which can establish Christianity, in exclusion
of all other Religions, may establish with the same ease any particular sect of Christians,
in exclusion of all other Sects? That the same authority which can force a citizen to
contribute three pence only of his property for the support of any one establishment,
may force him to conform to any other establishment in all cases whatsoever?
From the Declaration of Independence
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of
Name__________________________
Church and State – Fall 2010/5771 – Levingston, p. 5
Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their
just powers from the consent of the governed....
From the Constitution of the United States of America, Preamble
http://ratify.constitutioncenter.org/constitution/details_explanation.php?link=003&co
nst=00_pre_00
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish
Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the
general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do
ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
From the Constitution of the United States of America, Preamble
http://ratify.constitutioncenter.org/constitution/details_explanation.php?link=003&co
nst=00_pre_00
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish
Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the
general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do
ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
From the Constitution of the United States of America, First Amendment
http://ratify.constitutioncenter.org/constitution/details_explanation.php?link=120&co
nst=08_amd_01
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of
the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of
grievances.
From the Constitution of the United States of America, Fourteenth Amendment
http://ratify.constitutioncenter.org/constitution/details_explanation.php?link=171&co
nst=21_amd_14
SECTION. 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the
jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.
No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities
of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or
property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the
equal protection of the laws.
First amendment issues:
http://ratify.constitutioncenter.org/constitution/details_explanation.php?link=122&co
nst=08_amd_01
This site includes a contemporary case and some background information if you click on
the tabs “viewpoints” and “Supreme Court update.”
Religion in schools from The Council for Spirituality and Ethics in Education:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/teachers/lp_rps2.html
Name__________________________
Church and State – Fall 2010/5771 – Levingston, p. 6
This site includes material from the U.S. Secretary of Education, articles, a news quiz,
material about Christmas celebrations in schools, and materials related to other First
Amendment issues.
Name__________________________
Church and State – Fall 2010/5771 – Levingston, p. 7
Unit 1 – Our country’s founding vision
Case Study #1:
You believe that God and your fellow Quaker William Penn have made your home in
the Pennsylvania colony safe. As a Quaker, you believe in freedom of religion for all,
but you also can’t imagine not having an established religion since you come from
England, where the Church of England had primacy.
How do justify establishing a state religion, whether it would be Quakerism, the Church of
England, or something else in the North American colonies?
Alternatively, how would you argue against the establishment of a state religion?
Case Study #2:
You are part of the deliberations in the Virginia colony, debating whether or not to
establish the Church of England as the official religion in the colony. Now that you have
established your ideals and principles in Case Study #1, how do you practice those
principles in the real world of politics, especially because (with your 250 years of
hindsight) you know that slavery is a looming economic and humanitarian issue and
you cannot afford to make too many enemies.
Would you be willing to trade and allow establishment if slavery could end?
Would you be willing to see no establishment at the cost of requiring a standing army (the cost of
compromising your deeply principled pacifism)?
...Or would you accept no establishment at the cost of a censored press?
Case Study #3:
You are part of the congressional deliberations in the 1950s, considering whether or not
to make “In God We Trust” the official motto of the United States of America. These
words have appeared on coins since the Civil War era in 1864, though it not officially.
You have a significant urban population that continues to elect you because of your
commitment to funding mass transit and other city projects that keep communities safe;
many constituents don’t attend church or synagogue and they find the motto too
religious. The small corner of your district that includes farmers feel strongly about
keeping God in mind, especially with the threat from Communism overseas, and they
are pressuring you to vote in favor of the motto.
How do you vote in light of your district’s constituencies?
Name__________________________
Church and State – Fall 2010/5771 – Levingston, p. 8
Unit 2 – Our country’s founding documents
1. James Madison on the establishment of religion in Virginia
On what principles does Madison base his case?
Have you seen some of these words, phrasing, or ideas before?
Is his case persuasive?
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2. The Declaration of Independence
Text study: Declaration of Independence
Is there any phrasing in the Declaration that suggests the Establishment of religion?
Is there any phrasing that suggests a belief in God that would exclude others?
Is there any phrasing related to Free Exercise?
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3. The Constitution of the United States of America
Text study: Preamble, the First Amendment and the Fourteenth Amendment
What appeals? What is vague? What could become problematic?
Take notes on how you would read with an eye toward the future
Knowing what you know now, would you edit any parts of the Constitution?
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Name__________________________
Church and State – Fall 2010/5771 – Levingston, p. 9
Unit 3 – Essential First Amendment cases that establish legal approaches to
Establishment and Free Exercise
Case citation: _________________________________________________________________
Question: Can/May..... _________________________________________________________
Summary and key points in the Supreme Court’s holding (majority opinion)
Majority opinion written by _____________:
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Summary and key points of the Supreme Court’s minority opinion, written by ________:
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Name__________________________
Church and State – Fall 2010/5771 – Levingston, p. 10
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Implications for the Establishment clause:
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Implications for the Free Exercise clause:
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Other First Amendment or general societal implications:
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Fourteenth Amendment issues:
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Name__________________________
Church and State – Fall 2010/5771 – Levingston, p. 11
Why is this case fundamentally important to Church and State issues? What’s the
nuance, or, in Jewish parlance, what’s the hiddush?
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If you were a judge, with which side would you agree and on what would you base
your conclusions?
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