"They have kept us in submission because they have talked about separation of church and state. There is no such thing in the Constitution. It's a lie of the left, and we're not going to take it anymore."
- PAT ROBERTSON, THE STATE, Columbia, South Carolina, Nov. 14, 1993.
2007-10-09 11:40:24 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
"I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute--where no Catholic prelate would tell the President (should he be Catholic) how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishoners for whom to vote--where no church or church school is granted any public funds or political preference--and where no man is denied public office merely because his religion differs from the President who might appoint him or the people who might elect him.
I believe in an America that is officially neither Catholic, Protestant nor Jewish--where no public official either requests or accepts instructions on public policy from the Pope, the National Council of Churches or any other ecclesiastical source--where no religious body seeks to impose its will directly or indirectly upon the general populace or the public acts of its officials--and where religious liberty is so indivisible that an act against one church is treated as an act against all."
2007-10-09 11:41:04 · update #1
- JFK, Address to Greater Houston Ministerial Association, 1960
http://www.jfklibrary.org/Historical+Resources/Archives/Reference+Desk/Speeches/JFK/JFK+Pre-Pres/Address+of+Senator+John+F.+Kennedy+to+the+Greater+Houston+Ministerial+Association.htm
2007-10-09 11:41:17 · update #2
Since the "separation of church and state" is not in the Constitution, I will just accept what the Constitution says...I don't need Pat or JFK to talk for me.
JFK, by the way, was campaigning for President when there had never been a Catholic President before--wonder why he was making this point?
2007-10-09 11:45:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 6⤋
The words, "separation of church and state" are not in the constitution. The reference to religion is in the first amendment to the constitution that states something to the effect that that no law shall be made imposing a religion on the people or that would interfere with the free expression of religion. The notion was to avoid any state religion, not to eliminate religion from the state. Kennedy's speach is more on line with the constitution then Robertson's
2007-10-09 18:47:23 · answer #2 · answered by fangtaiyang 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Pat Robertson. The truth will set you free but yet the truth seems to offend so many people on the left. Such a shame.
2007-10-09 19:26:17 · answer #3 · answered by D.A. S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
JFK no doubt.
Separation of church and state is one of the cores of the US Constitution. It has worked up to now...until it has been eroded by the TheoCons. It is absolutely NEEDED for government to function properly.
2007-10-09 18:44:06 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
I agree with JFK.
A theocracy, whether official, or unofficial, (whether labeled as such, or whether run by one's faith alone) is dangerous, and nothing more than a fascism.
One's faith is a matter between himself, and his God (or lack of God) it is not my right to impose my beliefs upon you, or for you to impose your beliefs upon me.
1 - Theocracy fails, of all theocratic nations today (Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Athos, The Vatican, etc) many are in peril, suffering from corruption, or are considered by many to be a hostile nation, only a couple on my list are relatively peaceful.
2 - You can't MAKE someone believe, no matter how hard you try.
2007-10-09 18:55:16 · answer #5 · answered by Ethernaut 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I'm with JFK, the majority of americans who understand why the separation exists and support it, and the genius of the Founders for putting it in place.
2007-10-09 18:45:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 1⤋
JFK, however....
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/409311/the_role_of_religion_in_us_politics.html
None of our Presidents (including JFK) ever said religion should be completely removed from the public square.
2007-10-09 18:59:29 · answer #7 · answered by Brian Tubbs 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I totally agree with John F. Kennedy, and I'm sure that the Founding Fathers would, as well.
2007-10-09 18:50:40 · answer #8 · answered by tangerine 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Neither. While I don't want to be made to act according to other people's beliefs, I think that religious groups should have a say just like everybody else.
2007-10-09 18:49:01 · answer #9 · answered by sudonym x 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Definately Kennedy is closer. My oh my! A man who actually read the Constitution and understood it!
2007-10-09 18:44:57 · answer #10 · answered by Petrushka's Ghost 6 · 5⤊ 1⤋