Patrick spoke as chair of President Donald Trump's Religious Liberty Commission, which is planning to make federal policy recommendations in May.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks during a press conference on Monday, June 23, 2025, in Austin. Patrick was addressing about Gov. Greg Abbott’s veto the night before of the legislature’s bill to ban THC products.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick argued'there is no such thing as ‘separation of church and state' in the U.S. Constitution.' He issued the statement this week in his role as chair of President Donald Trump's'For too long, the anti-God left has used this phrase to suppress people of religion in our country,' Patrick said.'During all 7 Commission hearings, witness after witness testified that the so-called ‘separation of church and state' was used to take their God-given religious liberty rights away.'
Patrick’s remarks come as Texas is involved in multiple battles over the dividing line between church and state. These include multiple lawsuits over the enforcement of, which requires the display of an explicitly Protestant translation of the Ten Commandments in every Texas public school classroom, as well as efforts by Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton — the latter aDouglas Laycock, a professor of constitutional law at the University of Texas School of Law, called Patrick’s statement a “very old claim from people who want to use government power to impose their religious practices on other people.”
'It is literally true that the word separation of church and state do not appear in the Constitution, but the idea clearly appears in the Constitution,' Laycock added. Sam Martin, Frank Church Chair of Public Affairs at Boise State University, said that, while it is technically true that the words'separation of church and state' do not appear in the Constitution, the principle is shorthand for what is embedded in the First Amendment's ban on a government-established religion.
'Religious people have every reason and claim to make arguments and be in public life,' Martin said.'But not just arguing that religious people belong in public life. He’s arguing for a more privileged role for Christianity in public institutions, and I think that that is less defensible and less in line with what we know about the founding and the Constitution and certainly the way the courts have interpreted rights to religious freedom.”
Patrick said the commission will deliver its recommendations to Trump on how to'safeguard' Americans' religious liberty next month. 'What I think Patrick is doing, and what this commission seems to be heading toward, is attacking the very fundamental idea that government should remain, let’s say, institutionally separate from religion,' Martin said.'And that is a hallmark of Christian nationalist practice.'
Dan Patrick Government Lt. Governor Patrick President Trump Religion Trump U.S. Constitution
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick warns GOP infighting could threaten Texas House majorityLt. Gov. Dan Patrick is warning that internal party divisions could put Republican control of the Texas House at risk in November.
Read more »
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says 'separation of church and state' is unconstitutionalTexas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who chairs the new Religious Liberty Commission (RLC), wants to 'set the record straight' on the First Amendment, saying the Constitution does not mandate a separation between church and state.
Read more »
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says 'separation of church and state' is not in ConstitutionTexas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who chairs the new Religious Liberty Commission (RLC), wants to 'set the record straight' on the First Amendment, saying the Constitution does not mandate a separation between church and state.
Read more »
Texas Lt. Gov. Patrick Disputes Separation of Church and State, Criticizes 'Secular Left'Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, chair of the Religious Liberty Commission, argues the Constitution doesn't mandate a separation of church and state, claiming religious people are under attack. The RLC will present recommendations to President Trump in May. The ACLU of Texas countered, asserting the separation is a bedrock constitutional right.
Read more »
Chiefs Land New WR1 for Patrick Mahomes in Mel Kiper’s Final Mock DraftESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. has the Kansas City Chiefs snagging arguably the top WR in the 2026 draft class in his latest mock.
Read more »
Patrick Ball Subtly Addresses the Chances of Langdon Being Written Off ‘The Pitt’ After Cast ExitsThe Pitt’s Patrick Ball found a subtle — yet effective — way to tease whether Langdon is leaving the show after multiple cast exits.
Read more »