US House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) says that the separation of church and state is a "misnomer." Thomas Jefferson famously used the phrase in an 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptists Association of Connecticut in which he explained the First Amendment to the US Constitution builds "a wall of separation between Church & State." Johnson wrongly insists Jefferson actually meant that we should have more religion in government.
"People misunderstand it," Johnson said on CNBC after being asked about his praying on the House floor. when asked about him praying on the House floor. "…What he was explaining is they did not want the government to encroach upon the church, not that they didn't want principles of faith to have influence on our public life. It's exactly the opposite."
From The Hill:
Johnson argued that "faith, our deep religious heritage and tradition is a big part of what it means to be an American" in his comments Tuesday. He further argued that "morality" must be kept among Americans "so that we have accountability."
"That's why I think we need more of that," he said. "Not an establishment of any national religion, but we need everybody's vibrant expression of faith, because it's such an important part of who we are as a nation."
