“The separation of church and state is a misnomer —people misunderstand it,…it’s exactly the opposite”

CNBC Anchor Tries To Corner Mike Johnson On Church And State, Gets A History Lesson Instead.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) called the separation of church and state a “misnomer” when CNBC co-anchor Andrew Ross Sorkin attempted to corner him about kneeling and praying on the floor of Congress earlier this year.

“The separation of church and state is a misnomer —people misunderstand it,” Johnson said during an interview on “Squawk Box.”

“Of course, it comes from a phrase that was in a letter that [Thomas] Jefferson wrote — it’s not in the Constitution,” he added.

Johnson referred to Thomas Jefferson’s 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptist Association of Connecticut when Jefferson served as the third President of the United States.

“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 is exactly the opposite,” Johnson said. “It’s exactly the opposite.”

He then referenced George Washington’s Farewell Address, delivered in 1796, which stated, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.”

Johnson also mentioned John Adams’ letter to the Massachusetts Militia in 1798, which read, “Our constitution is made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other.”

“They knew that it would be important to maintain our system,” Johnson said. “And that’s why I think we need more of that — 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.”

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