O'Donnell: Separation of church and state?

"You're telling me that's in the First Amendment?" she asks during latest debate

Published October 19, 2010 1:20PM (EDT)

Democratic candidate Chris Coons and Republican candidate Christine O'Donnell, right, respond to a question during a televised Delaware Senate debate at the University of Delaware in Newark, Del., Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)  (AP)
Democratic candidate Chris Coons and Republican candidate Christine O'Donnell, right, respond to a question during a televised Delaware Senate debate at the University of Delaware in Newark, Del., Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool) (AP)

Republican Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell of Delaware is questioning whether the U.S. Constitution prohibits the government from establishing religion.

In a debate at Widener University Law School, O'Donnell criticized Democratic nominee Chris Coons' position that teaching creationism in public school would violate the First Amendment by promoting religious doctrine.

O'Donnell asked where the Constitution calls for the separation of church and state. When Coons responded that the First Amendment bars Congress from making laws respecting the establishment of religion, O'Donnell asked: "You're telling me that's in the First Amendment?"

The exchange Tuesday aired on radio station WDEL generated a buzz among law professors and students in the audience.

You can listen to audio from WDEL here.

 


By Ben Evans

MORE FROM Ben Evans


Related Topics ------------------------------------------

2010 Elections Christine O'donnell