Black Robed Priest admits, "My church is down at the Temple of Justice."
Excerpt from radio interview with Washington Supreme Court Justice,
Richard D. Sanders on Republican Radio, April 22, 2000. Hosted
by Janet Spangler and Jerry Miller.
Transcript of Interview
Spangler
Earlier, you said you want to avoid churches
needing licenses. Are churches registered by the State now in any way?
Sanders
No.
Spangler
Not in any way? There is not a registration? They
do not have to go to the State to get any kind of requirements or
seek any kind of permission?
Sanders
Well, if they establish a corporation or a
nonprofit corporation, then I suppose there is a registration
requirement for that, but for the most part, churches are certainly
not required to have a license to practice their faith.
Spangler
What about the ministers? Do they need
authorization from the State to perform State-authorized marriages?
Sanders
(Pause) Well, they (clears throat) have that authorization.
Spangler
The State doesn't give them the authorization in any way?
Sanders
I'm not absolutely clear on that. I think that
not anybody can just go out and perform a marriage and have it
legally binding. I think that it has to be a legitimate religion and
what the requirements are to establish that you are in fact a pastor
or a priest.
Spangler
I've been curious about that legitimization. Is
it the State that makes it legitimate or is the Church in and of
itself legitimate?
Miller
I'm concerned because Richard (the supreme court
justice being interviewed) married Judy and me and I don't even know
what church he belongs to. (Laughter)
Spangler
Oh, he's the one that married you?
Sanders
Well, my church is down at the Temple of Justice, Jerry. So I think you are safe there.
Miller
You think we are legitimate?
Sanders
(Laughter) Right.
Miller
And Judy says "Hello" by the way. And she is
still saying "thank you."
Spangler
I was just curious if there is some way that a
church can be a church without being involved with the State in any
way, shape, or form so that they don't have to worry about
additional laws being imposed on them by the State.
Sanders
Well, I think that was the original idea.
Spangler
Uh-huh
Sanders
I know that in some communities I've read about
-- it kind of depends upon what you mean by a church. But
individuals would sponsor prayer meetings in their home and it would
cause increased traffic in the neighborhood and the neighbors would
object under zoning laws and then try to stop that. I think when the
Constitution says absolute freedom of worship, it means what it says
and that this--
Spangler
I agree.
Sanders
-- is Constitutionally privileged activity and
that the government always goes, always pushes the envelope and
that's what the courts are for, to say no.
Spangler
Okay, thank you.
Miller
Justice Sanders, thank you so very much for being
with us on the air today and we'll have you back as soon as we
possibly can. You're listening to Republican radio on the air
sponsored by the Snohomish County Republican Party on KRKO AM 1380
Talk Radio with a Bite. I'm your host Jerry Miller. My
co-hosts are Tim Suitor and Janet Spangler and our very special
guest has been Washington Supreme Court Justice Richard D. Sanders.
