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Article: Thomas Jefferson on Religion
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- July 24, 1989
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Michael Novak's memory slipped its gears when he asserted that
he doesn't remember reading in the founding texts of our republic
that this is a "secular" nation {op-ed, July 10}. Obviously, he
either forgot about or never read the notes on the Constitutional
Convention, in which Ben Franklin, the eldest of the statesmen,
proposed opening the sessions with a prayer, but was emphatically
rejected by the delegates.
Mr. Novak also must not have read Thomas Jefferson, author of
the Declaration of Independence, on the subject of freedom of
religion. When in office as the third president, in denying a
request from the Committee of the Dansbury Baptist Association that
he declare a day of ...