Obit: Edward Schempp, Who Fought School Bible Readings, Dies at 95. His lawsuit went to the Supreme Court and was a basic reaffirmance of importance of barring state action from religious practice. The decision held that:

Because of the prohibition of the First Amendment against the enactment by Congress of any law "respecting an establishment of religion," which is made applicable to the States by the Fourteenth Amendment, no state law or school board may require that passages from the Bible be read or that the Lord's Prayer be recited in the public schools of a State at the beginning of each school day - even if individual students may be excused from attending or participating in such exercises upon written request of their parents.

Though the case is arguably about a certain select practice, the principle protected was much broader. This was suggested by the presence of several concurring opinions, representing the views of justices from various faiths. As summarized by the majority:

"The place of religion in our society is an exalted one, achieved through a long tradition of reliance on the home, the church and the inviolable citadel of the individual heart and mind. We have come to recognize through bitter experience that it is not within the power of government to invade that citadel, whether its purpose or effect be to aid or oppose, to advance or retard. In the relationship between man and religion, the State is firmly committed to a position of neutrality."

How this is to be applied remains controversial, but the overall principle should not be. And, pending events only make this all the more clear ... the alternative, selective assistance of certain religious faiths is the road to ruin. So is the basic message of our Constitution and our basic principles as a nation itself. The fact they are often honored in breach is not enough to dismiss them as naive platitudes. And, it is often up to regular citizens, like Edward Schempp, to reaffirm them.

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Senior citizens amok? Might happen ... see the closing vignette found in this article on the pending Medicare legislation.