Mayor Adams dismissed the notion that there should be a separation between church and state in U.S. society on Tuesday, drawing ire from fellow Democrats who contended that line of argument runs counter to long-held American values.
Adams, who’s Christian, has over the course of his political career spoken extensively about how important he believes faith is in civic life and said as recently as last February that “God” told him to become mayor.
But his comments Tuesday morning, delivered at an interfaith breakfast at the New York Public Library’s central branch in Manhattan, took it a step further.
The tone was set by Ingrid Lewis-Martin, Adams’ chief adviser, who introduced him at the event by declaring that the mayor’s administration “does not believe” in the concept that one must “separate church from state.”
“Ingrid was so right,” Adams said once he took the stage. “Don’t tell me about no separation of church and state. State is the body, church is the heart. You take the heart out of the body, the body dies. I can’t separate my beliefs because I’m an elected official.”
He continued: “When I walk, I walk with God, when I talk, I talk with God. When I put policies in place, I put them in with a God-like approach to them — that’s who I am.”
Adams’ remarks put him at odds with a key clause of the U.S. Constitution. The establishment clause of the First Amendment holds that the U.S. shall make no laws “respecting an establishment of religion,” a principle derived from the teachings of Thomas Jefferson, who wrote that there must be “a wall of separation between Church and State” in the U.S.
A spokesman for Adams said the mayor was only voicing his personal belief in Tuesday’s remarks, and that he isn’t pushing for upending any U.S. laws or principles.
Still, some of Adams’ progressive critics were troubled by his rhetoric.
“The Democratic Party should not normalize this kind of talk. I hope we see it denounced widely,” Chris Sosa, a spokesman for Upper East Side Progressives, wrote on Twitter.
Naomi Paiss, vice president of a group called Americans United for Separation of Church and State, echoed Sosa’s sentiment.
“So much for blue-city mayors upholding a fundamental principle of American society,” Paiss tweeted.
While introducing him, Lewis-Martin also praised Adams as “one of the chosen” — and the mayor embraced that suggestion, too.
“Today, we proclaim that this city, New York City, is a place where the mayor of New York is a servant of God,” Adams told the breakfast crowd.
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“Depart from Me. I never knew you.” That’s what most politicians claiming a divine calling will hear.
How did he get this far in NYC?
Nowhere in the United States Constitution is there any mention of the separation of church and state.
I can not judge, but look at Nancy Pelosi and No Joe Biden who claim to be devoted Catholics but encourage, support and protect unborn baby murders. #6 of the 10 Commandments of God – “Thou Shalt Not Murder” and they encourage, support and protect almost everything that is considered a Sin or an abomination in the Word of God, the Holy Bible.
Matthew 7:15-16 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
16 By their fruit you will recognize them.
Thomas Jefferson wrote the letter promising the “seperation between church and state” to a church worried about government interference. Hmm…sounds familiar.
He never infered that religious people have no role in government. In fact, the Constitution references inalienable rights handed to us by our Creator.
First for those who are a little slow, He is not establishing a religion. with that said HE is spot on. the idea of separation of church and state is nowhere in the constitution. it was a suggestion from Jefferson. Since he is not ESTABLISHING A RELIGION AS MAYOR there is no conflict.
It’s ok to be Christian but thou shalt not not kill, thou shalt not steal. But does he and his people understand the shalt not ??
“NYC Mayor Adams Dismisses Separation Of Church And State, Declares Himself ‘A Servant Of God’”
“Mayor Adams dismissed the notion that there should be a separation between church and state in U.S. society on Tuesday, drawing ire from fellow Democrats who contended that line of argument runs counter to long-held American values.” (Democrat Party cult supporters only)
Note that the Democrat Party hates God and encourages, protects and supports just about everything that God Word, the Holy Bible condemns as a Sin or an Abomination and also note that today the Democrat Party is promoting these Sins and Abominations in public schools and to children as young a 6 years old.
* 1962 – By David L. Hudson Jr. In Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962), the Supreme Court ruled that school-sponsored prayer in public schools violated the establishment clause of the First Amendment.
* In Stone v. Graham, 449 U.S. 39 (1980), the Supreme Court ruled that a Kentucky law that required the posting of the Ten Commandments on the wall of every public school classroom in the state violated the establishment clause of the First Amendment because the purpose of the display was essentially religious.
IT royally blows, that the Scotus has ruled, aT LEAST twice in the past, ON THE SIDE Of the dems on this..