Opinion | Jessica Levinson: This Supreme Court case may help clarify the blurry line between church and state. - NBCNewsTHINK
Picture it. Almost a century ago, a chapter of the American Legion, a veteran’s service organization, wanted to honor World War I veterans from Maryland who fought and died in battle. The American Legion monument is a 40-foot tall “Peace Cross,” which is technicallyThe problem for Maryland is, which is part of the First Amendment, provides that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion…”.
We know the government cannot force you to attend or support your local church, temple, or mosque. But we also know that just a little promotion of religion might be okay. So it might be constitutional for a government action to have an incidental or secondary effect of promoting one religion, religion in general, or non-religion, but the government can’t go too far. The question the Supreme Court has wrestled with for years is how far is too far. Too often, the answer has been: We’re not sure.. We know the government cannot force you to attend or support your local church, temple, or mosque. But we also know that just a little promotion of religion might be okay.
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