James A. Garfield Quotes
Nor can any ecclesiastical organization be safely permitted to usurp in the smallest degree the functions and powers of the National Government.
James A. Garfield, 1831-1881, 20th President of the United States (Republican, OH), Inaugural Address, March 4, 1881
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
Spinoza’s ideas were considered so radical and dangerous that he was the only man in history who was excommunicated by the Catholics, the Jews and the Muslims. This quotation, in the 17th century outraged almost every cleric. This is one of the strongest and unequivocal statements about the desirability of separation of church and state. Interestingly, as early as this statement was, Spinoza believed that harm extended to both religion and government.
Jefferson’s concern over issues of church state separation and independence was expressed early when he was a young lawyer.
The remainder of the cabinet abandoned the plan in the face of the Bishops’ opposition. When the public found out, it became a cause celebre. Browne resigned, and the Protestants of Northern Ireland argued that this was an example of Catholic religious control of the Southern Irish government. See the quotation of President John Aloysius Costello.
In some countries, although not theocracies, the religious establishment had an automatic right to sit in the parliament. In this particular case it was essentially only the majority church. Catholics had 1 seat and the various protestant denominations, Jews, and others had no automatic religious representation in the legislature.
The clergy of the colonies were split on the American Revolution, but those clergy who supported the revolution made a huge contribution to the individual American’s intellectual view of the legitimacy of Parliament’s making laws governing the American Colonies. The anti-British clerics called for action while other forces of colonial America urged caution.
James Abram Garfield was the 20th president of the United States, serving from March to September 1881. Garfield was shot by an assassin four months into his presidency and died two months later. He is the only sitting member of the United States House of Representatives to be elected to the presidency.
