Grim's Hall: "Francis J. Beckwith has a review of a new book on the separation of church and state. I was not aware of the Ku Klux Klan's role in the move of that doctrine to the fore of American jurisprudence, as a result of anti-Catholic prejudce -- if the book is correct in its assertion, that is ...

I tend to think that the American courts have taken the doctrine of separation a bit too far, but also that the doctrine does point to a useful ideal. American society works best when religion is not used as a weapon against one's fellow citizens, but only as a weapon against one's self. Insofar as you wield the sword to strike down the evil in your own heart, you and your society benefit from it. The individual Senator or President can benefit from that practice as much as ordinary men or women, because of course they are nothing other than ordinary men or women."

Yes, Church "doctrine" needs to be separate from law. But the basics of not murdering or assaulting or robbing or stealing or defrauding or violating contracts -- are all required for civilization. When violations of these legal norms are reinforced as sins in a culture, there will be fewer violations. And more civilization.