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==Madison on Separation of Church and State==

==Madison on Separation of Church and State==

Madison, along with his fellow Democratic-Republican [[Thomas Jefferson]], was adamant in maintaining a [[Separation of church and state]]: "The experience of the United States is a happy disproof of the error so long rooted in the unenlightened minds of well-meaning Christians, as well as in the corrupt hearts of persecuting usurpers, that without a legal incorporation of religious and civil polity, neither could be supported. A mutual independence is found most friendly to practical Religion, to social harmony, and to political prosperity." (Letter to F.L. Schaeffer, Dec 3, 1821)

Madison, along with his fellow Democratic-Republican [[Thomas Jefferson]], was adamant in maintaining a [[Separation of church and state]], a very rare position at the time and almost unheard of among the founding fathers.  [[George Washington]], for instance, in his farewell address advocated the importance of having moral religious men in government.

"Is the appointment of Chaplains to the two Houses of Congress consistent with the Constitution, and with the pure principle of religious freedom? In the strictness the answer on both points must be in the negative. The Constitution of the U. S. forbids everything like an establishment of a national religion. The law appointing Chaplains establishes a religious worship for the national representatives, to be performed by Ministers of religion, elected by a majority of them; and these are to be paid out of the national taxes. Does not this involve the principle of a national establishment, applicable to a provision for a religious worship for the Constituent as well as of the representative Body, approved by the majority, and conducted by Ministers of religion paid by the entire nation?" (Detached Memorandum, circa 1820).  

 

<blockquote>"Is the appointment of Chaplains to the two Houses of Congress consistent with the Constitution, and with the pure principle of religious freedom? In the strictness the answer on both points must be in the negative. The Constitution of the U. S. forbids everything like an establishment of a national religion. The law appointing Chaplains establishes a religious worship for the national representatives, to be performed by Ministers of religion, elected by a majority of them; and these are to be paid out of the national taxes. Does not this involve the principle of a national establishment, applicable to a provision for a religious worship for the Constituent as well as of the representative Body, approved by the majority, and conducted by Ministers of religion paid by the entire nation?" (Detached Memorandum, circa 1820).</blockquote>

 

 

 

==References==

==References==

{{USPresidents}}

{{USPresidents}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Madison, James}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Madison, James}}

[[Category:Presidents of the United States]]

[[Category:Presidents of the United States]]