“Religion is of general and public concern, and on its support depend, in great measure, the peace and good order of government, the safety and happiness of the people. By our form of government, the Christian religion is the established religion; and all sects and denominations of Christians are placed upon the same equal footing, and are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty.” – Samuel Chase,  Runkel v. Winemiller (1799)

(It seems to go without saying that the principles of religious liberty has since this decision greatly expanded the doctrine of equal footing to other belief systems, too.)