The Separation of Church and State

Lauren Smith at Americans United [for Separation of Church and State] shares five lessons she learned while working for AU. She enters law school this year. Her observations are enlightening and illustrate why we need separation of church and state to protect our religious and civil liberties.

To me, her most important point is #3. Her full response appears below the fold. Further down, I address the “Christian Nation” theory.

3) Education is essential.
This is the most common e-mail AU receives:

“As you are well aware, the ‘separation of church and state” it is NOT in our Constitution. Your platform is un-Constitutional.”

Do Libertarians Have Any Moral Sense Whatsoever?

Mary Ruwart, a leading contender for the presidential nomination of the Libertarian Party, addressed child pornography in her book Short Answers to Tough Questions. The particular “tough question” she addressed: “How can a libertarian be against child pornography?” She writes,

“Children who willingly participate in sexual acts have the right to make that decision as well, even if it’s distasteful to us personally. Some children will make poor choices just as some adults do in smoking and drinking to excess. When we outlaw child pornography, the prices paid for child performers rise, increasing the incentives for parents to use children against their will.”

Perhaps Ruwart’s amazing answer prompted this response from the LP: Libertarains Call For Increased Communication to Combat Child Pornography. If Libertarians nominate Ruwart for President, they will brand themselves the party of moral idiocy.

HT: Ron Gunzberger, Politics 1.

Pope Benedict’s Positive Message

At InsideHigher.com, Elizabeth Redden writes about Pope Benedict’s address to Catholic educational leaders at Catholic University of America in Washington D.C.

“The Church’s primary mission of evangelization, in which educational institutions play a crucial role, is consonant with a nation’s fundamental aspiration to develop a society truly worthy of the human person’s dignity,” the pope said from a chair made of maple wood and against the backdrop of a wall sheathed in yellow gold.

“At times, however, the value of the Church’s contribution to the public forum is questioned. It is important therefore to recall that the truths of faith and of reason never contradict one another. The Church’s mission, in fact, involves her in humanity’s struggle to arrive at truth. In articulating revealed truth she serves all members of society by purifying reason, ensuring that it remains open to the consideration of ultimate truths. Drawing upon divine wisdom, she sheds light on the foundation of human morality and ethics, and reminds all groups in society that it is not praxis that creates truth but truth that should serve as the basis of praxis.”

“Truth,” he continued a little later in his speech, “means more than knowledge: knowing the truth leads us to discover the good. Truth speaks to the individual in his or her the entirety, inviting us to respond with our whole being.”

Amen.

A Programming Note

I will be at an undergraduate research conference for several days, and will resume blogging next week.

Oil CEOs to Discuss Gas Prices, etc. on Capital Hill Today

From the C-SPAN website:

House Select Energy Cmte. Chairman Edward Markey (D-MA) brings top-level executives from the five largest oil companies to discuss the current state of oil & gas prices, renewable fuels, and pollution.

The hearing begins at 12:00 PM. You can watch or listen the proceedings through your web browser by clicking the links on the C-SPAN home page.

Follow this link for the AP story, at Yahoo! News.