“Constitution does not require complete separation of church and state” – Lynch v. Donnelly, 1984
Justice William Orville Douglas served the longest term on the bench in the Supreme Court’s history — 36 years, until his death JANUARY 19, 1980. He was one of the eight Supreme Court Justices nominated by Franklin D. Roosevelt. He previously taught law at Columbia Law School and Yale Law School and served on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Justice William O. Douglas wrote the majority decision in the 1952 case of Zorach v. Clauson:”The First Amendment, however, does not say that in every and all respects there shall be a separation of Church and State …Otherwise, the state and religion would be aliens to each other — hostile, suspicious, and even unfriendly …Municipalities would not be permitted to render police or fire protection to religious groups. Policemen who helped parishioners into their places of worship would violate the Constitution. Prayers in our legislative halls; the appeals to the Almighty in the messages of the Chief Executive; the proclamations making Thanksgiving Day a holiday;’So Help Me God’ in our courtroom oaths;
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