The well-known phrase “Separation Between Church and State” has been repeated “ad nauseam” to mean “don’t bring your faith into the public square”. Even many “Catholics” quoted this catchphrase to justify their secular stance and to silence priests, when abortion and issues related to sanctity of marriage are addressed at the pulpit. They even affirmed that such principle is mentioned in the First Amendment of the Constitution and in the founding documents of the United States. We will discuss how this bold assertion not only is far from the truth but also historically false. Not only is the phrase “Separation Between Church and State” never mentioned in any official founding documents or the Constitution, but our Founding Fathers also affirmed repeatedly the free exercise of religion and faith in the public square. The Founding Fathers would never have allowed the restrictions on religion in public as it is happening today.
We will review the history of how the phrase “Separation Between Church and State” was manipulated and became the key factor to take away God and faith from the public arena. We will also reflect on Christ’s words “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” to see how our Christian vocation and duties take priority when there is conflict between God and State. Are other social justice issues on par as the right to life and sanctity of marriage? We will see why the issues of Abortion and Marriage take priority and importance over other “social justice” issues; why they are not simply political issues but are engrained in Church teachings since the very beginning.