The First Amendment makes clear that Congress shall make no laws creating a religion (which can also be interpreted as backing a particular religion or belief system), impeding ones ability to practice their religious beliefs in any way they see fit. It also prohibits any limits being placed on free speech.
But, we all know that in balancing the Government’s duty to ensure domestic tranquility one may not yell “Fire” in a crowded theater (or restaurant, or any crowded space). Therefore, while the First Amendment clearly states “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”, we do know that free speech has its limits in a civilized society. The press, as well, otherwise what secrets would the military and our beloved spy organizations ever keep? Slander and libel are also frowned upon, and so we’ve placed limits on and punishment of that type of speech.
Religion should be treated no differently from speech, especially if a religious organization is to receive money or do business with any government agency, from the town crier to the Federal Government. Or, do business with the general public, even if it’s local. This comes down to the same principle of racial segregation. Whites Only is no more.
And, this makes sense from a “textualist” reading of the Constitution. After all, religion and free speech are given equal weight, both finding protection in the First Amendment. (Though, as a textualist what do you make of the Bill of Rights? After all, these ten Amendments weren’t part of the original Constitution and I could argue, based on history and a textualist viewpoint, that these original Amendments were clearly an afterthought and not necessarily held in as high regard as the original text of the Constitution. If they had been, would they not have been included part and parcel to begin with?)
Simply, to allow a religious organization to impede upon someone else’s free expression of themselves (speech and/or religious beliefs) is to implicitly grant the impeding religious organization government backing and legitimacy above and beyond the infringed party’s own beliefs. Or, to put it in words the Federalist Society would understand “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion”. To put it into words most 10 years could understand, it’s like yelling “Fire” in a crowded theater. It does more harm than good, and is only useful when there is an actual fire.
Finally, to put this into words those who fear the great Satan, Socialism, will understand, it’s the same as saying all pigs are equal, except some are more equal than others.
It’s time we put a stop to this farce of Religious Freedom and tuck it away with the other Great American farce, States’ Rights. These are nothing but flights of fancy dreamt up by Racists and slaveowner wannabes, those who will use every tool at their disposal; Religion, Freedom, Liberty; to instill their own backward 17th Century view of World Order upon us all. When it comes to public discourse, policy and law, the Founders were clear in where Religion sits. Well outside government and the public sphere, but rather firmly ensconced in one’s own home, one’s place of worship, one’s family. It’s time we put Religion to bed, before we find ourselves yet again torn asunder by twisted religious teachings that demand a God who favors one person over another, while these same zealots cry we are all God’s children. Don’t we have enough of this bullshit in the Middle East?