Gorsuch Disputes Idea of Christian Founding for U.S.

Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch has stated that the United States was not founded as a Christian nation, directly challenging a view gaining traction among some conservative politicians.

In an interview with PBS, Gorsuch asserted that America's founding principles emphasized religious pluralism and the freedom to practice one's faith without state endorsement. "We were founded, a lot of our colonies, for religious pluralism, right? And the opportunity to practice your own faith in your own way," he told Margaret Hoover. He further clarified that the nation was intended to be inclusive, not defined by a single race or religion, but by unifying ideas.

Gorsuch pointed to the historical presence of diverse religious groups, such as the Amish and Quakers, as evidence that the nation was never solely associated with one religion. He underscored the importance of the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of religion and speech and ensures equality under the law, stating, "We have a First Amendment, for crying out loud. No established religion. Everybody has a freedom of religion. Everybody has the freedom of speech. We are all equal under law."

This statement comes amid efforts by some far-right politicians to increase the role of religion in public life. Recent actions include state-level mandates for displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms and adding the Bible to required reading lists in Texas. Additionally, a report from a commission formed during the Trump administration recommended diminishing the separation of church and state and repealing the Johnson Amendment, which restricts political activity by religious institutions.

Public opinion, according to a 2021 Pew Research Center study, indicates that a majority of Americans do not favor establishing the U.S. as a Christian or exclusively religious nation. The study found that approximately 56% of Americans believe the federal government should uphold the separation of church and state, and 69% believe the government should never declare an official religion.