Pope Francis Addresses Congress
On September 24th, 2015, Pope Francis addressed Congress on the topics of immigration, climate change, poverty, and the death sentence. Just by his presence, the idea of the Separation of Church and State was challenged and the rhetoric surrounding it likewise was challenged. Some Congressmen, such as Paul Gosar, stated that they were going to boycott the address, while others stated that they believed it was important to acknowledge the views and positions of the church.
Video:
"Pope Francis addresses Joint Session of Congress." Youtube, uploaded by C-SPAN,
24 Sept. 2015, youtu.be/oBM7DIeMsP0. Accessed 12 Nov. 2016.
Transcript:
HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE. "Congress of the United States of America Visit."
USCCB.ORG, 24 Sept. 2015, www.usccb.org/about/leadership/holy-see/
francis/papal-visit-2015/media-resources/upload/11-EN-congressional-address.pdf.
Accessed 12 Nov. 2016.
"Pope Francis addresses Joint Session of Congress." Youtube, uploaded by C-SPAN,
24 Sept. 2015, youtu.be/oBM7DIeMsP0. Accessed 12 Nov. 2016.
Transcript:
HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE. "Congress of the United States of America Visit."
USCCB.ORG, 24 Sept. 2015, www.usccb.org/about/leadership/holy-see/
francis/papal-visit-2015/media-resources/upload/11-EN-congressional-address.pdf.
Accessed 12 Nov. 2016.
Through a variety of photographs, we are able to see how religion and politics in our current day intertwine without creating a theocracy. In the collection "God And Man On The White House," Buzzfeed gathers an assortment of images depicting the balance between Church and State.
Nycsouthpaw. "God And Man On The White House Flickr Feed." Buzzfeed, 10 Feb.
2012, www.buzzfeed.com/nycsouthpaw/
god-and-man-on-the-white-house-flickr-feed?utm_term=.xcXB2rplD#.dyJOQWmwM.
Accessed 14 Jan. 2017.
"Religion and Government are certainly very different Things, instituted for different Ends; the design of one being to promote our temporal Happiness; the design of the other to procure the Favour of God, and thereby the Salvation of our Souls. While these are kept distinct and apart, the Peace and welfare of Society is preserved, and the Ends of both are answered. By mixing them together, feuds, animosities and persecutions have been raised, which have deluged the World in Blood, and disgraced human Nature." - John Dickinson, May 12th 1768
John Dickinson, one of the founding fathers of America, wrote in the Pennsylvania Journal to address the rising issue of the relationship between Church and State in our government. He notes that in order to have an upstanding, well-functioning government, it is crucial that religion and politics are divided.
Green, Steven K. The Separation of Church and State in the United States.
American Oxford Research Encyclopedias, Dec. 2014. American Oxford Research
Encyclopedias, americanhistory.oxfordre.com/view/10.1093/acrefore/
9780199329175.001.0001/acrefore-9780199329175-e-29. Accessed 14 Jan. 2017.
American Oxford Research Encyclopedias, Dec. 2014. American Oxford Research
Encyclopedias, americanhistory.oxfordre.com/view/10.1093/acrefore/
9780199329175.001.0001/acrefore-9780199329175-e-29. Accessed 14 Jan. 2017.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." - First Amendment
![Picture](/uploads/9/3/2/0/93202712/0001_2_orig.jpg)
The First Amendment of the Constitution has often been referenced to throughout the discussion of the Separation of Church and State. As stated in the quote above, the Constitution states that Congress cannot make a law respecting an establishment of religion, essentially stating that the Separation of Church and State is crucial. But since the Constitution was drafted, the First Amendment's rhetoric has been regarded in different lights. While some political figures state that the Constitution specifically says that there must be a Separation of Church and State, while others state that the Constitution does not specifically outlaw the Separation of Church and State.
Quote:
"First Amendment." Legal Information Institute, Cornell University Law School,
www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/first_amendment. Accessed 15 Jan. 2017.
Picture:
United States, et al. We, the people of the United States, in order to form a
more perfect union. [Providence: Printed by John Carter, 1787] Pdf.
Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <https://www.loc.gov/item/
90898138/>.
"First Amendment." Legal Information Institute, Cornell University Law School,
www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/first_amendment. Accessed 15 Jan. 2017.
Picture:
United States, et al. We, the people of the United States, in order to form a
more perfect union. [Providence: Printed by John Carter, 1787] Pdf.
Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <https://www.loc.gov/item/
90898138/>.
Voting in Churches
"Using houses of worship as polling places is particularly problematic knowing the psychological consequences of voting in a church. Where you vote can affect how you vote."-Rebecca Markert
The Freedom From Religion Foundation, FFRF, is a foundation that is dedicated to the complete separation of church and state. In the particular article from which this quote is taken, the FFRF argues that voting in churches should only be allowed if there is absolutely no religious influence. Currently, Churches are commonly used as places to vote. In some instances, Churches have handed out propaganda or pamphlets to voters. This creates a biased environment, as religions can influence voting for many people. A voting environment should always be non prejudiced. There is no need for crosses or advertisements to deviate a person's focus from choosing the candidate who they feel would be best for the job.
Markert, Rebecca S. "The Problem of Voting in Churches." Freedom from Religion
Foundation, Oct. 2016, ffrf.org/publications/freethought-today/item/
27679-the-problem-of-voting-in-churches-by-senior-staff-attorney-rebecca-markert.
Accessed 20 Nov. 2016.
Foundation, Oct. 2016, ffrf.org/publications/freethought-today/item/
27679-the-problem-of-voting-in-churches-by-senior-staff-attorney-rebecca-markert.
Accessed 20 Nov. 2016.