Since church and state are seperate per the Constitution, why do the Catholic Bishops blatantly ignore this?

Question

By saying that Catholics must obey church laws rather than think for themselves when voting in the elections next year? Do they think they are above the government? If so, why not just leave this country if they truly hate how it's run, and found a country with their own laws that they can dictate everyone? But let people here think and act for themselves. This is yet another reason why theocracy should never be put into practice, as if Dubya and his cronies weren't bad enough.

Why do we even have a Constitution anymore if everyone ignores it?

Answer 1

You can clearly see what the catholic cult thinks of American laws by the way they handled the priest and nun pedophile cases. They protected these pedophiles after they knew they had abused thousands of children. What other organization protects hundreds, maybe thousands of pedophiles? Why does the government not punish this organization for blatantly harboring criminals and allowing the sexual abuse of minors over decades, possibly centuries. The catholic cult does not respect American laws, so this should be no surprise.

Answer 2

You have completely misunderstood the meaning.

The first Amendment actually says:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

The point of such an amendment is twofold. First, it ensures that religious beliefs - private or organized - are removed from attempted government control. This is the reason why the government cannot tell either you or your church what to believe or to teach. Second, it ensures that the government does not get involved with enforcing, mandating, or promoting particular religious doctrines. This is what happens when the government "establishes" a church - and because doing so created so many problems in Europe, the authors of the Constitution wanted to try and prevent the same from happening here.

Can anyone deny that the First Amendment guarantees the principle of religious liberty, even though those words do not appear there? Similarly, the First Amendment guarantees the principle of the separation of church and state - by implication, because separating church and state is what allows religious liberty to exist.

It does NOT say that religious leaders cannot vocalize what they endorse politically nor does it say that they cannot suggest that their congregations consider endorsing the same thing.

In the end, the Catholic Bishops can not stand behind you in the voting booth and make sure you vote the way they want you to. They can only vocalize what they think and hope that you agree when you go to cast your votes. If you have different ideas, you are free to vote your own conscience.

So the First Amendment is not ignored at all. You just misunderstood what it meant.

Answer 3

People have a right to believe and to practice there beliefs when they vote.That is fundamental freedom.
The government does not have the right to force people or tell people what to believe.
The separation of church and state protects the peoples right to practice or not practice there religion.

If Catholics want to vote for Donald Duck it is there right
The Constitution tells the Government what it can and cant do
It does not tell the people HOW TO THINK>

I think you should have stayed awake in basic civics class in the seventh grade. This complete lack of understanding of the framework of our country is really scary,

If more people had cared about there country and actually read the Constitution or even owned one DUBYA wouldn't have ever been more than a Rich Coke head.

Answer 4

this has nothing to do with separation of church and state. The separation merely means that the state cannot enact laws establishing a state religion.

What the Catholic Bishops are doing is exercising Free Speech, and enjoying the free exercise of their religion, both of which are clearly protected by the US Constitution.

Answer 5

Why are you asking about people ignoring the constitution when you have obviously not even bothered to read it. The constitution says nothing about seperation of church and state. What it says is that regarding religion no law shall be made.

Second, you seem to presume that church laws are CONTRARY to the government. That is NOT true. We live in a democracy, obviously catholics have a right to vote based on their beliefs and the teachings of their churches. In fact, the church wasn't even so crass as the political parties... it didn't even send out a laundry list of things to vote for: merely reminded voters to THINK and remember their MORAL VALUES as they vote. If you ask me, that's sage advice for anyone.

I don't see why atheists are SO against the recommendation to consider your values system when you vote...

Answer 6

I apologize if this is offensive to you but I feel you do not understand separation of church and state. Separation of church and state says that the government cannot require nor forbid religious worship. Separation of church and state does not mean that religious people (ordained or not) cannot have opinions on matters such as abortion or the death penalty.

If Greenpeace can promote saving the rain forest and the Teamsters Union can promote a higher minimum wage I do not see what is wrong with the Catholic church supporting the reversal of Roe v Wade.

Answer 7

They don't. The Catholic Bishops voters guide is very careful NOT to endorse andidates. It only tells the people what the Church's stand on certain issues is and then give the candidate's known stand on those issues.

I have never heard of a Catholic Church inviting a candidate to speak at a service, but you see it all the time in Protestant churches.

Answer 8

the Catholic church in its own mind still believes it controls s***. like in the "great" Vatican days. They believe they have the moral right to do this, dont forget u r dealing with a bunch of people who believe in "the word of God" and they are just following his orders. Yes they do think they are above govt. sad really, and destructive when it starts affecting the lives of sane people. Luckily that cannot hang or behead someone these days.

Answer 9

They always have. When you see a "Rated R" movie, know that's because of the Cahtolic Bishops. In fact, the American CAtholic Bishop organization is a rogue group that even the Pope has had to chastize before for getting involved in politics in election years.

Answer 10

No-ware in the Constitution is there anything that talks about the separation of Church and State....