Dear Jerry Falwell

        Reverend Jerry Falwell,

        Once again you have raised the importance of prayer in public school.
        Let me enlighten you on the origin of the separation of church and state.
        It began with religious freedom ...
     
        Catholic residents of the Board of Education, District 24, of the state of
        Illinois, brought suit to have the Board of Education discontinue in the
        schools the reading of the Bible, the singing of hymns, and the reciting
        of King James version of the Lords prayer.

        The Circuit Court of Scott County dismissed the petition, the Supreme Court
        of Illinois, June 29, 1910, reversed this judgment and held that
        "The stated exercises constituted sectarian instructions, and made
        the public schools a house of worship in violation of the Illinois Constitution,
        Art.3, Sect.2 and Art.8, Sect.3."

        The Supreme Courts of Wisconsin (March 18, 1890)
        Nebraska (October 8, 1902) and Louisiana (April 12, 1915)
        upheld the Illinois Supreme Court declaration ~

        "the exclusion of a pupil from the school exercises separated him from his
        fellows, put him in a class by himself, deprived him of his equality with other
        pupils, subjected him to a religious stigma, and placed him at a disadvantage
        in school, which the law never contemplated."
       
        Catholics objected to having an incorrect version of the Bible read in public schools.
        Jews objected to being alienated by Christian Bible readings in a public school.
        Because in some States Protestantism is dominant Protestant religious services
        were practiced in public schools.

        I pray that you can comprehend this.

        Sincerely,

        Muzzy