Originally Posted by Sum Ting Wong

The Constitution, as written, did not "separate" religion nor the Church from active participation within and by the Federal "State". It declared only that the Federal Government could not prefer or "establish" one Church or religion to the detriment of another (as many of the existing Colonies/states had done). One of the first actions of Congress was to fund chapels on military posts and chaplains for the military. No "separation" at all, which accounts for the wording of oaths of office and in courts at the time, as well as for benedictions at government gatherings.