In his curious attempt to equate traditional separation of church and state with Stalinism and Nazism, Michael P. Cassidy [letters, March 10] misquoted the First Amendment, which says in part:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion."
Mr. Cassidy conveniently inserted the word "federal," presumably to nullify nearly a century of constitutional interpretation in which the 14th Amendment has been held to incorporate the Bill of Rights as a safeguard against state as well as federal infringement, the First Amendment first and foremost.
EDWIN M. YODER JR.
Alexandria
