Founders intended all to worship as they wished

I agree 100 percent with the opinions expressed on the Opinion page of your newspaper entitled “Tired of taxing litigation” by Phil Hermanek ( March 19). I further agree with the author that we should all get behind House Bill HR 2679.

It is obvious that the ACLU does not understand the “Establishment Clause;” however, the original founders of our country knew exactly what it meant as they came from England, which had an established church: The Church of England.

People were frequently punished for not attending church services at that church. Further, all had to support this church with their taxes. Many of the original settlers came to this country because they had different religious beliefs than those of the Church of England.

Anyone who bothers to read the Declaration of Independence can plainly see that the original intent of the founders of our country was not to take religion out of public life, but give everyone the right to worship God as he chose.

The very first paragraph says they “Wanted the right to follow the Laws of Nature that Nature’s God entitled them.” In the second paragraph, they write about the “Creator.” They end this document with the words that “ They are relying on the protection of Divine Providence.” The last words are “We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our Sacred Honor.”

It is obvious that the original founders of our country did not intend to eliminate religion from our country. They just wanted to be sure that all could worship as they wished.

Esther Rhines

Kenai