FAITH IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE

Nevertheless, it is common to hear politicians of every stripe say, in their speeches, "God bless America".  It sounds good, but it does not really mean anything.  Many people do not believe that there is a God.  This throwaway line could easily offend atheists.  That not withstanding, which "God" do these speakers mean?  I never hear them say, "may the Lord Jesus Christ bless America".  That, to many, would be sectarian and offensive to those Americans who are not Christians. 

God, the God of the Bible, has and shall bless America when its citizens obey His Word, for example, on the subject of Abortion or Homosexuality.  I do not recall many politicians calling Americans to do that.  That would be mixing private faith with public policy.  That is a no-no.  But, it turns out, there is one major exception:  Systemic Racism.  Many people believe Racism and systemic Racism, like Slavery 150 years ago, are evil.  That is a strongly held belief, a dogma. Their faith requires them to speak up and protest about it in the public square. For some reason the inconsistency of that mixing of faith with public policy escapes them.  It is OK to them to do that. No one seems to have a problem with that.

But to many it would not be OK if Supreme Court Justice Barrett would let her Catholic Faith influence her decisions on the Bench. Many of the Justices have done exactly that through the years!  But I do not think she will.  She does not have to because she, as a Justice, would be committed to  following the original meaning of the Constitution.