John Kerry: Keep the Separation of Church and State

Senator John Kerry, one of the Democratic candidates for president, has left no doubt about where he stands on the separation of church and state. Although himself a Catholic, he emphatically rejected attempts by the Vatican to pressure Catholic politicians to limit their actions as representatives of the people by what the Catholic Church teaches.

GFN reports:

On Friday, he scolded the Vatican for saying Catholic politicians like himself have a "moral duty" to oppose laws granting legal rights to gay couples. ... "I believe in the church and I care about it enormously," said the Massachusetts senator. "But I think that it's important to not have the church instructing politicians. That is an inappropriate crossing of the line in America."

It's nice to see politicians standing up to affirm the independence of civil government from ecclesiastical control. That's what secularism is all about - and we are much better off under a secular than under a theocratic system of government.

Read More:

• Roman Catholicism
• Secularism 101