Church And State Separation Examined

WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 14: A visitor passes by a picture named "The Declaration of Independence" by John Trumbull showing members of the committee appointed by the Continental Congress to draft the Declaration, (L-R) John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, at Thomas Jefferson Memorial October 14, 2004 in Washington, DC. Although the U.S. constitution prohibits an official state religion, references to God appear on American money, the U.S. Congress starts its daily session with a prayer, and the same U.S. Supreme Court that has consistently struck down organized prayer in public schools as unconstitutional opens its public sessions by asking for the blessings of God. The Supreme Court will soon use cases from Kentucky and Texas to consider the constitutionality of Ten Commandments displays on government property, addressing a church-state issue that has ignited controversy around the country. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)