The State And Church
During the personal ministry of Jesus, there were many who wanted to make him an earthly king. On one occasion John says, "Jesus therefore perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force, TO MAKE HIM KING, withdrew again into the mountain himself alone" (Jno. 6:15). The reason Christ did not want to be an earthly king is apparent from his statement to Pilate. "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews" (Jno. 18-36). Because His kingdom was NOT OF THIS WORLD, it had nothing in common with earthly governments and kings. The New Testament makes a clear separation of church and state.
Not only does the Bible condemn a fusion of church and state but our constitution also forbids it. This however, does not stop the pressures of the Catholic church in trying to cement the two together. Of course, in Italy or any other country where Catholics are predominate, the church rules the state. This has led to the burning of Protestant buildings, the name of the church being chiseled off its building by the police, priest led mobs and the such like. This is a matter of public record reported in our daily news, papers. But you say this cannot happen in America. Dear reader, similar things are already happening. Pressure is getting stronger and stronger each day to unite church and state and for the Catholic church to receive the benefits of our public tax monies. For example, an issue of the Lufkin News of recent date carried a story about the Catholics in Jefferson City, Mo. who are trying to force the state to provide free transportation for the parochial schools. They failed in their efforts but promised this was not the end of the matter. In some states, they have succeeded and I predict they will finally do so everywhere. In most all of our public schools the children have to eat fish on Fridays because of Catholic coercion. How long will it be before the public tax monies pay for their school buses for the parochial schools? Or how long will it be until the entire parochial school system is paid for and supported by our tax dollars?
These things that may seem insignificant to many are nothing but steps toward the uniting of church and state. It is a malignant growth that will not stop until freedom loving and Bible loving people rebel. I agree with one Catholic author when he said: "If Catholics ever gain a sufficient numerical majority in this country, religious freedom is at an end. So our enemies say, so we believe" (The Shepherd of the Valley, journal of the late Bishop of St. Louis). From the way many people bow to pressure from this religious body; it may be later than you think!
— 928 Marilyn Lafayette, Louisiana