San Francisco Atheists - Essays: The National Cathedral

The "National Cathedral"?

By Don Havis

January 2, 2007

Dear Editor,

Just as was the case immediately after the 9/11/01 tragedy, we were again reminded on January 2nd with the funeral and memorial services for ex-President Gerald Ford that we seem to have what is referred to as a “National Cathedral.”

Is anyone else as annoyed as I am by the designation of a “National Cathedral”? I thought that the First Amendment to our federal Constitution guaranteed the separation of Church and State. If we have a designated “National Cathedral,” I am just wondering where is our “National Synagogue,” and our “National Mosque?” As a non-religious person, where might I visit my designated “National Freethought Center?”

Of course the real truth is that the phrase “National Cathedral” is simply a sort of moniker that this particular Episcopal Church has adopted and informally named itself. In point of fact, the church receives no endorsement, money, or formal federal recognition of any sort. To do so would be clearly illegal; and yet, it is certainly implied that this is the case.

I am sure I am joined by most non-religious persons as well as many persons who may be allied with either other than Christian religions and/or other Christian sects when I call for all members of the media to refer to all future events which may be held at the Episcopal Church in Washington D.C. to refer to that structure by its REAL name—“The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul,” founded in 1893 by the Protestant Episcopal Church Foundation.

Sincerely,

Don Havis

The author can be emailed at dhavis@sbcglobal.net.