Dear Ms Lopes:

Dear Ms Lopes:



I would hope the selectmen of Middleboro would politely tell the Boston lawyer to take a long walk off a short pier. He appears simply to be seeking billable hours. He and others who call so heavily on the separation of church and state display a remarkably selective memory and understanding of the history of our country.



The Mayflower Compact mentions God five times and expressly states as a purpose "the advancement of the Christian faith." Our Declaration of Independence refers to God, Creator, Supreme Creator, Supreme Judge of the World and Divine Providence.



As for the separation clause, the first article of our Bill of Rights states simply, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Our founding fathers were not averse to the presence and practice of religion. Indeed, they supported it, and with it "freedom of speech."



Sincerely,



Mary Roche



Lakeville