What Constitution really says

The comments regarding the First Amendment by Lesli Marie Hogan in her letter to the editor on March 28, and the title given her letter by the Moorpark Acorn "Separation of church and state" continue a common misunderstanding of what the First Amendment of the Constitution states and the common misconception that the phrase "separation of church and state" is included in the Constitution.

Here is the First Amendment: "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 states that the government is prohibited from establishing a national religion, as England had done, while at the same time requiring that the government to permit the "free exercise" of religion.

The phrase "separation of church and state" appears nowhere in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights. It is from a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote in 1802 to the Danbury Baptist Association, a minority denomination in Connecticut facing persecution and fearing the establishment of a state religion. Jefferson's response assured the association the federal government would not establish a national religion and that each person was free to exercise his or her religion.

Because of our forefathers' experiences with the Church of England, they wanted to keep government out of religion, not religion out of government. This is freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.

Joan Johnson

Moorpark