"The state has not the right to leave every man free to embrace whatever relion he shall deem true. The church has the right to require that the Catholic Religion shall be the Religion of the State , to the EXCLUSION of ALL OTHERS. CURSED be those who assert LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE and of worship and such that maintain that the Church may not EMPLOY FORCE." The syllabus of Pope ix dec 1864
If you think that Rome has changed her ways not so... "On his tour of Poland in 1978, pope John Paul II denounced excessive materialism and the seperation of CHURCH AND STATE" Time june17,1991
Lets hear what the founding fathers had to say ...
George Washington " Every man, conducting himself as a good citizen, and being accountable to GOD alone for his RELIGIOUS opinions, OUGHT to be PROTECTED in WORSHIPPING the DIETY according to the dictates of his own conscience"
Benjamin Franklin "when a religion is good, I conceive that it will support itself; and , when it cannot support itself, and GOD does not take care to support it, so that its professors are obliged to call for the help of the CIVIL POWER, it is a SIGN, I apprehend , of its being a bad one."
Thomas Jefferson "almighty GOD hath created the mind free; ....all attempts to influence it by temporal punishments or burdens, or by CIVIL incapacitations, tend only to beget habits of HYPOCRISY and MEANNESS, and are a DEPARTURE form the plan of the holy Author of our RELIGION, who being Lord both of body and MIND, yet chose not to propagate it by COERCIONS on either, as was in His almighty power to do."
Finally James Madison: "Religion is essentialy distinct formits cognizance;...a connection between them is injurious to both."
Is it right for the United States according to the founding fathers to have an ambassador to the pope thus favoring one religion above the others. Thanks to Ronald Regan?
Is the Roman Church espousing the abolishment of Liberty of Conscience isnt that against the United States constitution?
r