Catholic Bishop complaining about secularism

http://www.goddiscussion.com/34063/catholic-bishop-complains-about-secularism-and-not-enough-religion-in-the-public-square/

This Bishop says, "As I understand it, the doctrine was meant to protect the church from the state and not the other way around"


Well, Bishop, you don't understand it. As Thomas Jefferson explained, in a letter to a Baptist Church, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between Church & State." As you can see, the establishment clause makes it so that Congress cannot legislate ANY establishment of religion. The Establishment clause does not just stop the state from interfering in religious affairs, it also stops religions from interfering in state matters. Which, when you think about it, is the same exact thing. If Religion A gets the state to pass laws favoring religion A, Religion B, which thinks that Religion A is completely wrong, has been disenfranchised by the state. You cannot legislate for one religion without simultaneously repressing another. This Bishop would do well to take an American Civics course before he takes the pulpit again.


EDIT: I've just now thought...at what point does a Church lose its tax exempt status? As I understand it, Churches don't pay taxes, and in return they are expected to stay out of political affairs. Tax-exempt churches are NOT allowed to endorse specific candidates, nor are they allowed to tell their parishioners how to vote on any particular ballot initiatives or propositions. This Bishop is certainly not over the line in his comments, deluded though they may be, but does he realize that if he gets his way, his organization would almost certainly have to lose its tax exempt status? Just an interesting side thought.