Separating the Catholic Church from the civil government does not bring happiness.  The opposite is true.  Rather, it is important to have all laws of a country based on God’s laws in order for the nation to have peace and prosperity and its citizens to have happiness.

 

This relationship is covered by the following points:

 

The Church and the State are both perfect societies, that is to say, each essentially must aim to achieve the common good in its own sphere.  Each has in itself the means for achieving its particular end, which is the happiness of its people.[1]  To consider these relations in brief from an ethical perspective, it will be necessary to state:

 

➢  The basis of their respective rights.  All rights and duties on earth come ultimately from God through the Divine Law, either natural or positive.

➢  The range of their respective jurisdictions.  As there are many distinct States of equal natural right, the subjects of each are restricted in number, and its government of them is practically confined within the limits of its own territory. 

 

➢  Their mutual corporate relationship.  Every perfect society must      acknowledge the rights of every other perfect society, must render to it all duties consequent upon such rights, must respect its autonomy, and may demand the recognition of its own rights and the fulfillment of obligations arising therefrom.

 

➢  The union of Church and State.  There is some confusion in the public mind about the meaning of the union of Church and State.  The essential idea of such union is a condition of affairs where a State recognizes its natural and supernatural relation to the Church, professes the true Catholic Faith, and practices the worship prescribed by the Church, protects it, enacts no laws to its harm, while, in case of necessity and at its instance, taking all just and requisite civil measures to promote the Divinely-appointed purpose of the Church. 

 

There are counter-theories regarding the “separation of Church and State”.  These may be considered thusly:

A.   Absolute Liberalism;

B.   Qualified Liberalism; and

C.   The Theory of the Regalists.

 

A.  Absolute Liberalism is the most extreme, having its source in the principles of the French Revolution and beginning with those who denied the existence of God.  They hold that all rights come from the state.

 

B.  Qualified Liberalism does not go so far.  It contends that Church and State are different entities and can act independently, neither being subordinate to the other.  However, at the same time it claims that the State must be detached from every religious society.  The axiom of this newer Liberalism – “A free Church in a free State”– actually means an emasculated Church with no more freedom than the shifting politics, internal and external, choose to give it.

 

C.  The Theory of the Regalists conceded a certain amount of social right from its Divine Founder, but conditioned the exercise of all social powers upon the consent of the civil government.[2]

 

None of these counter theories have any validity when they come up against the hard fact that man has no right to make his own laws without regard for the law of God.

 

Since both Church and State were established for the good of men, they cannot be totally separated without evil consequences.

 

One might ask what was the contribution of the Catholic Church to American democracy?  In general, we may say that the fundamentals of American democracy were derived from traditional thought and philosophy, and since these, being of Western Europe, were essentially Catholic, therefore, our democracy had its roots in the Catholic Church.

 

If this is true, what should be the attitude of the Catholic citizen towards the State?  The Catholic citizen is bound in conscience to obey the State, provided faith and morals are not endangered thereby.

 

The State is not the slave-master of its citizens but has the duty to attempt to bring about their good and their happiness, like a father of his family.  The inherent rights of individuals, and particularly of parents, cannot be usurped by the State.  For instance, parents, not the State, have the natural right to educate their children.  The State should merely supervise and facilitate education, but should not enact laws contrary to the obligations of parents to give their children a religious education.[3]

 

Most governments worldwide separate Church and State, such as in Socialism, Communism, and even Capitalism.  In this way the citizens look for necessities from the State, rather than praying to God.

 

The State has been trying to eliminate the Church from the affairs of government for decades.  It has moved on many fronts to accomplish this, such as proclaiming that there be no religion in public schools, in the town square, on Main Street, in civil and family law, resulting in sinful and evil laws such as same-sex “marriage”, feminism, defunding the police, sex education in schools, abortion, and transitioning the holy day of Christmas into a secular holiday, all tending to result in greater social and cultural breakdown.  Most problems in the world are due to the separation of true Catholic Church and State. 

 

Citizens must do what they can to get involved in local and national governments, and with the help of God bring His Church back into her role of ensuring that the civil government’s dictates conform with the rule and the desires of Christ the King.