Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said Saturday the idea of religious neutrality is not grounded in the country’s constitutional traditions and that God has been good to the U.S. exactly because Americans honor him.
Scalia was speaking at a Catholic high school in the New Orleans suburb of Metairie, Louisiana. Scalia, who was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986 is the court’s longest serving justice. He has consistently been one of the court’s more conservative members.
He told the audience at Archbishop Rummel High School that there is “no place” in the country’s constitutional traditions for the idea that the state must be neutral between religion and its absence.
“To tell you the truth there is no place for that in our constitutional tradition. Where did that come from?” he said. “To be sure, you can’t favor one denomination over another but can’t favor religion over non-religion?”
He also said there is “nothing wrong” with the idea of presidents and others invoking God in speeches. He said God has been good to America because Americans have honored him.
Scalia said during the Sept. 11 attacks he was in Rome at a conference. The next morning, after a speech by President George W. Bush in which he invoked God and asked for his blessing, Scalia said many of the other judges approached him and said they wished their presidents or prime ministers would do the same.
“God has been very good to us. That we won the revolution was extraordinary. The Battle of Midway was extraordinary. I think one of the reasons God has been good to us is that we have done him honor. Unlike the other countries of the world that do not even invoke his name we do him honor. In presidential addresses, in Thanksgiving proclamations and in many other ways,” Scalia said.
“There is nothing wrong with that and do not let anybody tell you that there is anything wrong with that,” he added.
Scalia’s comments Saturday come as the court prepares to hear arguments later this year in a case that challenges part of President Barack Obama’s health care law and whether it adequately shields faith-based hospitals, colleges and charities from having to offer contraceptive coverage to their employees.
Scalia is often a lightning rod for controversy on the court.
In December he came under fire for comments he made during an affirmative action case, questioning whether some black students would benefit from going to a “slower-track school” instead of Texas’ flagship campus in Austin.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
If only we had more Antonin Scalia’s in law making decisions in America we would be in a much better place.
Larry O’Connell
This proved that all Obama’s appointees are Godless and supporters of the Islamic Caliphate. Obamacare is promoting Godlessness!
Obama’s 2 appointees to the Supreme Court are both leftist Jewish supremacist lesbians, not Muslims. Other than hostility to Christianity and freedom, they have nothing in common with Muslims. Clinton also appointed 2 leftist Jewish supremacists to the court and promised to appoint another if given the opportunity. Hilary & Bernie can both be counted upon to appoint enemies of the bill of rights to the courts and federal agencies if elected. RINO’s in the Senate will never fail to confirm such appointments because of their fear of Jewish influence & greed for Jewish money.
You are so RIGHT
AMEN!
Once again Justice Scalia got it right. I wish more of the Supreme Court justices had his wisdom and world view.
Some may say the connection between America’s respect for God and the nation’s prosperity is a coincidence. But, it’s interesting to see how countries that try to govern based on the teachings of God seem to do better than secular governments. America’s march toward secular humanism has given us a nation that is moving away from God’s law. At the same time threats to our nation’s future are increasing.
Very True.
Right on, Justice Scalia!! Hooray and Hallelujah ! Someone in Washington who gets it right!! —
In God we trust.
Finally, someone on the supreme court with common sense and wisdom. All judges, regardless of the court they serve, have to realize 1 very important guiding principle, and it is a Godly principle: You will be judged using the same measuring rod that you have used to judge others! I believe this principle, if followed and acknowledged, makes for a “righteous” judge!
Peace to all, and may GOD bless you!!
Love him yes God has been good to America, but to many are turning their backs on God so they can do and say things they really know is wrong, like abortion, queers, and sex as a game instead of being with the one you love marry and grow old with, we are not Europe and don’t want my country to be anything like Europe this one of the most important reasons we went to war with them freedom of religion built on God, not Buddha, or atheists, or any other belief, and we need to protect it from others, who want our way of life changed, no don’t come here if you can’t adapt to our way.
Best article I’ve read in a LONG time! Yes Justice Scalia, Yes! Stand strong for the America that GOD has indeed blessed because we have honored HIM!
Praise the Lord, in God We Trust!
Scalia is straight on about GOD taking care of america because we honor him but the times they are changing because we as a country are putting GOD last instead of first and no other place shows that more than the united states supreme court and their GODless decisions at times. Mr scalia we need 5 of you on the court but unfortunately you are out numbered. Maby some day that will change but lets hope we don’t wait to late.
Thank you Judge Scalia May God bless you! God blesses countries that bless him ! God bless America! We are having problems because we are going from him!
Sadly, people like Scalia make all these rhetoric about God yet THEY do not know God. In fact, how different is Scalia from the Islamic fundamementalists out there killing and maiming in the name of God? Let your deeds show that you love God! It’s not just talking, my friends!