Chass, NY Times fall in culture trap: Constitution doesn't "provide separation of church and state."

• NY Times' Murray Chass: "The United States Constitution provides for separation of church and state. It does not provide for separation of church and baseball."

This is not correct. What the US Constitution's First Amendment does say is as follows:

• "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."

• This is something quite different from what Mr. Chass states. Working for the NY Times, he's probably heard it thousands of times. There are other special interest groups who actually are given an entire night's game with which to promote themselves, but Chass doesn't mention them. It's the scourge of Christianity that's the problem to him--even if its mention doesn't occur within earshot of anyone paying to see a baseball game.

Reference NY Times column by Murray Chass, "Is a night devoted to faith really about the money?" 3/14/08

• Findlaw.com

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