The Constitution: Freedom of religion and freedom from religion

Power play

“Public prayer is not intended to promote religious values, but to enhance the authority of some churches and some political views over others. Similarly with the posting of the Ten Commandments. It is about power, not about religion. Government by Christian or Islamic or any other faith has rarely been progressive. And the Constitution clearly intends that there should be freedom from religion.”

Ellery Schempp, "A Champion of the First Amendment," in an acceptance speech to the Freedom from Religion Foundation, Oct. 13, 2007