Clarence Thomas Wrote a Bizarre Opinion About Religion and the Constitution

COREY ADWAR

Religion • May 2014 • Views: 1,179

When the Supreme Court ruled this week that town board meetings could begin with prayers, conservative Justice Clarence Thomas suggested the Constitution gives states a lot more power over religion than many realize.

Thomas wrote in a separate opinion that the Constitution doesn’t specifically bar states from establishing their own religions, as the Wall Street Journal reports.

The fact that some states had established churches when the nation was founded suggests “the First Amendment was simply agnostic on the subject of state establishments; the decision to establish or disestablish religion was reserved to the states,” Thomas wrote.

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5 comments

Rocky-in-Connecticut May 12, 2014 5:25:21am

I guess in the same way that the Constitution leaves Slavery up to the states. Justice Thomas is without a doubt the most incompetent buffoon ever to infest the Supreme Court. A complete and utter Scalia boot licker.

And a real whack job based on his writings- the type of voice I would get a kick out of listening to on rural AM radio stations at 10pm in the 1980’s. Entertaining to listen to in a train wreck sort of way- downright frightening when enabled with real power.

cuzIsaidso May 12, 2014 8:42:17am

Are there states without a similar religious freedom clause in their own constitution? Of course, some state supreme courts would likely ignore their own constitutional guarantees.

philosophus invidius May 12, 2014 10:04:19am

re: #2 cuzIsaidso

Maybe Thomas is suggesting leaving the interpretation of such clauses to State courts?

De Kolta Chair May 12, 2014 10:34:57am

“Thomas wrote in a separate opinion that the Constitution doesn’t specifically bar states from establishing their own religions, as the Wall Street Journal reports.”

Was Thomas disagreeing with the WSJ’s reporting that the Constitution doesn’t specifically bar states from establishing their own religions, or is this just a case of bad writing by Business Insider?

Major Tom May 12, 2014 12:00:24pm

Oregon:
State Animal: American Beaver
State Flower: Oregon Grape
State Bird: Western Meadowlark
State Religion: Wicca

Pennsylvania:
State Animal: White Tailed Deer
State Flower: Mountain Laurel
State Bird: Ruffled Grouse
State Religion: Pentecostalism

…
The conservatives on The Court don’t care what they say anymore, as long as “the States” come out ahead in their decisions. No matter the ramifications of what they pretend to know what they are talking about.

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