An Inseparable Nation

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Recommended: Relationship between church and state

The Church and the government have been two of the strongest influences on mankind for many centuries. Both powers have received great faithfulness from citizens, yet both receive harsh criticism as well. Many people view these two factions as entirely separate entities; however, this ideology is a fallacy. The government and the Church are two independent institutions that cannot be separated; rather, they must work in conjunction to ensure the happiness of the American people.

Conflicts between the Church and the government have been apparent since before the time of the Romans. The origin of this conflict in the United States can be traced back to the early 1600’s. At this time, the relationship between the Catholic Church and the governments of European and Latin American countries was beginning to flourish (Christianity and the Founders). Many nations shared the Catholic faith, yet the English demonstrated hatred towards Catholics (Christianity and the Founders). Legal punishment of English Catholics was more severe than that of the non-denominational citizens. Catholic conspirers were publicly executed out of spite, and the Anti-Priest law of 1647 threatened death to all clergy (Christianity and the Founders). This general attitude of the people was carried over seas with the colonization of the Americas.

Several colonies during the early 1700’s enacted laws to restrict the practice of Catholicism (Christianity and the Founders). Rhode Island, for example, passed a law in 1719 that created civil restrictions for Catholics (Christianity and the Founders). This law was abolished, in 1783, at the end of the Revolutionary War (Christianity and the Founders). The disdain for Catholics in Georgia was of greater intensity (Ch...

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... Natural Law." Rasmusen Homepage. Web. 29 Jan. 2012. .

"Religion and the Federal Government: PART 1 (Religion and the Founding of the American Republic, Library of Congress Exhibition)." Library of Congress Home. Web. 29 Jan. 2012. .

Stanton, R. L. The Church and the Rebellion a Consideration of the Rebellion against the Government of the United States : And the Agency of the Church, North and South, in Relation Thereto. New York: Derby & Miller, 1864. Web. .

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Web. 29 Jan. 2012. .

Walton, R. "Colonial America." RichmondAncestry.org. Web. 29 Jan. 2012. .

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