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Personally, I would argue that a government official trying to feed a line to the church is if not actually in violation of the First Amendment (since there's no actual compulsion) at least bordering on uncomfortable territory. How long until the churches that parrot the official line start finding it easier to get what they need from the government (building permits, whatever) than the ones that don't? Or if not specific churches, how long before certain sects/denominations/groups start being favored? Maybe the ones who don't cooperate start getting labeled as activist and have trouble with tax-exempt status, or being looked at as extremists and potential terrorists?

It's a route that leads to interference with free exercise, and if suddenly some churches/religions have government approval and others don't we essentially have an establishment of religion.

So no, separation of church and state is not in the Constitution, but I do believe this is a potential First Amendment issue.

bdickens wrote:Shouldn't the ACLU be screaming about this blatant violation of the First Amendment?

The silence is deafening.