Freedom from religion

Brian Rothfusz’s March 12 letter urging support for the Rights of Conscience Act is incorrect in two ways. First, he quotes Thomas Jefferson in support of his view. Jefferson was not a fan of the Christian faith, and by all accounts was, at most, a deist. The Jefferson bible – cutting out all references to supernatural acts and focusing on the moral aspects of the work alone – used to be given to freshmen members of Congress.

Second, the First Amendment states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” In regards to the contraception debate, the government must articulate why contraception should not be covered by insurance without any reference to religion. Doing so, in any way, advocates a position of support for one religion over another. Allowing individuals to push a view onto others is a clear violation of both the letter and the spirit of the law.

Citing religion, or allowing such choices to be made based on religion, goes against much of what America was founded upon. Freedom from religion was the first element of the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights and should be respected as such.

Abram Conrad

Spokane