Bringing Down the Establishment: Faith-Based and Community Initiative Funding, Christianity, and Same-Sex Equality

Bringing Down the Establishment: Faith-Based and Community Initiative Funding, Christianity, and Same-Sex Equality
Anthony M. Lise, 12 N.Y. City L. Rev. 129 (2009)

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Christian ideology is deeply embedded in our culture. Some, such as former President George W. Bush and those who adhere to his conception of Christianity, celebrate the marriage of Christianity and the law; however, that union violates a fundamental principle of American law–that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion[.]” However, because Christianity has become so instrumental in shaping the law, it is often difficult to distinguish religious interests from secular interests, or interests that favor an establishment of religion from those that do not. The inability to make such a distinction has rendered permissible both government funding of faith-based organizations and legally sanctioned discrimination against homosexuals.