Bloomberg Excludes Clergy at Tenth Anniversary of 9-11 Citing Separation of Church and State

Bloomberg Excluding Clergy, Firemen and Police From Tenth Anniversary of 9-11

New York City Mayor Bloomberg certainly knows business matters. However, in matters of the Constitution on First Amendment matters he is lacking. It is beyond words to describe the mayor’s lack of understanding and insensitivity while he is excluding clergy, New York City firemen and policemen. Since he puts the issue as a Constitutional issue, let us bring in New York’s expert on the subject: John Jay. As a New Yorker and the first Chief Justice under the Constitution of the United States, Mr. Jay may have something to tell us.
In December 23, 1776 in the dark days after the defeats at Brooklyn, White Plains, Fort Washington and Fort Lee and then retreating into New Jersey, Mr. Jay was asked by the New York Assembly to address the people of New York. In his address, Mr. Jay mentioned God and having faith in God 33 times. This address was translated into German and distributed at the expense of Continental Congress. Granted, this was before the Constitution. However, the members had no doubts about Mr. Jay’s Christian convictions. In today’s environment he would not have been allowed to be confirmed. However, under the Constitution with the Founders of the country he was confirmed.
The nation’s capital for 1789 was in New York City (not Philadelphia which was 1790-1799 and then Washington from 1800 since). President George Washington was inaugurated in New York. He took the oath of office and swore on a Bible and stated “So help me God.” After the inauguration, where did the President go? He and others attended a communion service in New York City. Mrs. Elizabeth Hamilton (Alexander Hamilton’s widow) remembered Mr. Washington taking communion. When John Jay had the first session of the Supreme Court under the Constitution, there was a four hour communion service in New York City. The President and the Chief Justice wanted God’s blessing on our new nation.
Under the Constitution, George Washington recommended two days of Thanksgiving and Prayer (1789 and 1795). John Adams recommended two days of Thanksgiving and Prayer (March 23, 1798 and March 6, 1799). [Many experts attribute Adams to be a Unitarian but check out the documents of the prayer days and one will see the most Trinitarian description (Most High God, the Great Mediator and Redeemer and the Holy Spirit). Jefferson had no national days of prayer but did have days of prayer in Virginia when he was governor. Madison, who directed a huge part in the ratification of the Constitution, recommended four days of Thanksgiving and Prayer (1812, 1813, 1814 and 1815). That totals 8 recommended days of Thanksgiving and Prayer by the first four Presidents under the Constitution. Please note that people were not guillotined for not attending- the days were recommended.
Doesn’t the Senate and House of Representatives have chaplains? How long have they been there? Since the Founding? Even though it is recommended for Congressman and Senators to hear the morning devotion and prayer, do they all pay attention? Do some Congressmen skip attendance, ignore or just do not listen to the Chaplains? The Senate and House of Representatives have had benefit of clergy. Why not allow that for the grieving people of New York. George Washington, John Jay and James Madison (who were very acquainted with the federal government in New York when it was the nation’s capital) are pointing a finger at you, Mr. Bloomberg. They are saying that this is not right!
Punishments by the British during the American Revolution included sentences of various punishments. The most severe included “without benefit of clergy.”