The first words of the First Amendment, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion," are often misconstrued to mean total separation of church and state. In a recent Supreme Court case, justices are reconsidering this interpretation, arguing that the Establishment Clause mainly protected states from federal interference in religious matters. Historical perspectives suggest a misunderstanding of the clause's purpose, indicating that states should hold authority over religion, a stance supported by various justices over time, including Joseph Story.
The Supreme Court ruled in 1947 that the Establishment Clause not only limits Congress but also restricts state-level religious actions, contradicting its original purpose.
Justice Joseph Story emphasized that the Establishment Clause aimed to prevent a national ecclesiastical establishment, granting states authority over religious matters.
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