The Constitution
What does it say about . . RELIGIOUS FREEDOM?
Amendment 1
Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
or
abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the
people
peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of
grievances.
COMMENT: This is the part of the Constitution which gives
legality
to all free expression of religion, including Ordination by Mail.
Amendment 14
1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to
the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the
State wherein they reside.
No State shall make or
enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of
citizens
of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life,
liberty,
or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within
its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
COMMENT: This provision basically reinforced that States
may not
interfere with our Constitutionally protected freedoms, including our
free
expression of religion.
5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate
legislation,
the provisions of this article.
COMMENT: Congress passed
the
Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 1993, reinforcing our religious freedoms.
Ordination by Mail Ministry
vs
United States of America
In 1974 a ministry which ordained
people in a simple manner by
mail, and
by other means, sued the United States Government. The suit was over
taxes.
However, when the Federal Judge ruled in the ministry's favor on taxes
he also ruled on the legality of receiving ordination in a simple
manner.
Here is part of the Federal Judge's decision concerning simple
ordination.
"The Court must then address itself to the defendant's second
conclusion:
that the ordination of ministers, the granting of church charters, and
the issuance of Honorary Doctor of Divinity certificates by plaintiff
are
substantial activities which do not further any religious purpose.
Certainly
the
ordination of ministers and the chartering of churches are accepted
activities
of religious organizations. The defendant impliedly admits that
same
on Page 5 of its Memorandum in Support of its Requested Instructions.
The
fact that the plaintiff distributed ministers credentials and Honorary
Doctor of Divinity certificates is of no moment. Such activity may be
analogized
to mass conversions at a typical revival or religious crusade. Neither
this Court, nor any branch of this Government, will consider the merits
or fallacies of a religion. Nor will the Court compare the beliefs,
dogmas,
and practices of a newly organized religion with those of an older,
more
established religion. Nor will the Court praise or condemn a religion,
however excellent or fanatical or preposterous it may seem. Were the
Court
to do so, it would impinge upon the guarantees of the First Amendment."
COMMENT: As a result of this Federal Judge's ruling, ministries
started
by mail ordained clergy have been flourishing throughout the United
States,
and in many other countries throughout the world.
Note: World Christianship Ministries does not ordain right on our
websites. Applications must be mailed in, Faxed in, Called in or sent
to us as a PDF or JPEG attachment to our E-Mail address. While almost
all applications are approved, occassionaly we must disapprove an
application. This sets us apart from the online ordination sites which
ordain anyone who fills out their online form, and has no type of
personal contact with you.
