From the bench
The morality of the country is deeply ingrafted upon Christianity, and not upon the doctrines or worship of other religions. In people whose manners are refined, and whose morals have been elevated and inspired with a more enlarged benevolence, it is by means of the Christian religion. United States Supreme Court, 1811Why may not the Bible, and especially the New Testament be read and taught as a divine revelation in the school? Where can the purest principles of morality be learned so clearly or so perfectly as from the New Testament? United States Supreme Court, 1844
The happiness of a people and the good order and preservation of civil government essentially depend upon piety, religion and morality. United States Supreme Court, 1892
Religion, morality, and knowledge are necessary to good government, the preservation of liberty, and the happiness of mankind . United States Supreme Court, 1892.
The morality of the country is deeply ingrafted upon Christianity, and not upon doctrines or worship of other religions. United States Supreme Court, 1892
"It yet remains a problem to be solved in human affairs whether any free government can be permanent where the public worship of God, and the support of religion, constitute no part of the policy or duty of the state in any assignable shape." Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story
Federal Committee's
Religion must be considered as the foundation on which the whole structure rests. In this age there can be no substitute for Christianity; the great conservative element on which we must rely for the purity and permanence of free institutions. House Judiciary Committee, 1854
The great vital and conservative element in our system is the belief of our people in the pure doctrines and divine truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. House Judiciary Committee, 1854
State Courts
Offenses against religion and morality strikes at the root of moral
obligation, and weaken the security of the social ties…..This First
Amendment declaration never meant to withdraw religion. And with it the sanctions of moral and social obligation from all consideration and notice of the law. Supreme Court of New York, 1811Whatever strikes at the root of Christianity tends manifestly to the
dissolution of civil government, because it tends to corrupt the morals of the people, and to destroy good order. Supreme Court of New York, 1811The destruction of morality renders the power of the government invalid. Pennsylvania Supreme Court, 1815
A malicious intention, to vilify the Christian religion and the scriptures, would prove a nursery of vice, a school of preparation to qualify young men for the gallows, and young women for the brothel, and there is not a skeptic of decent manners and good morals, who would not consider such a common nuisance and disgrace. Pennsylvania Supreme Court, 1824
No free government now exists in the world, unless where Christianity is acknowledged, and is the religion of the country. Christianity is part of the common law. Its foundations are broad and strong and deep. It is the purest system of morality and only stable support of all human laws. Pennsylvania Supreme Court, 1824
Christianity has reference to the principles of right and wrong; It is the foundation of those morals and manners upon which our society is formed; it is their basis. Remove this and they would fall. Morality has grown upon the basis of Christianity. Supreme Court of South Carolina, 1846
What constitutes the standard of good morals? Is it not Christianity? There Certainly is none other. Say that cannot be appealed to, and what would be good morals? The day of moral virtue in which we live would, in an instant, if that standard were abolished, lapse into the dark and murky night of pagan immorality. Supreme Court of South Carolina, 1846