Otis Moss III Quotes

The clergy, by getting themselves established by law and ingrafted into the machine of government, have been a very formidable engine against the civil and religious rights of man.

What other nations call religious toleration, we call religious rights.

In a free government the security for civil rights must be the same as that for religious rights ... security in both cases will depend on the number and interests and sects.

In a free government, the security for civil rights must be the same as that for religious rights. It consists in the one case in the multiplicity of interests, and in the other in the multiplicity of sects.

In a free government the security for civil rights must be the same as that for religious rights.

What other nations call religious toleration, we call religious rights. They are not exercised in virtue of governmental indulgence, but as rights, of which government cannot deprive any portion of citizens, however small.

I think we recognize as Americans there are certain things that are just primary to the freedoms and liberties that we enjoy here and religious freedom is one of the most important things we as Americans cherish.

There is little doubt that religious liberty is best exercised within the setting of the secular state.

Let us contend for all the rights guaranteed by the constitution of our native country.

While it is the duty of Congress to respect to the uttermost the conscientious convictions and religious scruples of every citizen ... not any ecclesiastical organization can be safely permitted to usurp in the smallest degree the functions and powers of the national government.

It may not be easy, in every possible case, to trace the line of separation between the rights of religion and the Civil authority with such distinctness as to avoid collisions and doubts on unessential points. The tendency of a usurpation on one side or the other, or to a corrupting coalition or alliance between them, will be best guarded by an entire abstinence of the Government from interference in any way whatever, beyond the necessity of preserving public order, and protecting each sect against trespass on its legal rights by others.

Unbelievers in this country have rights but they don’t have the right to veto everybody else.

There is not a shadow of right in the general government to intermeddle with religion

Religious freedom must include the right to influence public policy within the bounds of liberal norms.

Constitutional rights must always come before sensitivities.

I’m a Christian Citizen exercising my Constitutional Rights

The Constitution provides that all Americans enjoy the right to live a life in accordance with their convictions of faith.

In addition to protecting the rights of every citizen of our country, our Constitution makes the citizens of the country mindful of their duties.

People must have the right to freely practice their religion. It is written in our founding documents and at the core of our values. If you look at my record, you'll see I safeguarded those values.

Rights are either God-given or evolve out of the democratic process. Most rights are based on the ability of people to agree on a social contract, the ability to make and keep agreements.

Of the five rights listed in the First Amendment. - religion, speech, press, assembly, petition - the very first right protected is freely exercising our religion.

Our rights do not come from God. That's your faith, that's my faith, but that's not our country.

The danger of silent accumulations & encroachments by Ecclesiastical Bodies have not sufficiently engaged attention in the U.S. [...] Besides the danger of a direct mixture of Religion & civil Government, there is an evil which ought to be guarded against in the indefinite accumulation of property from the capacity of holding it in perpetuity by ecclesiastical Corporations. [...] The establishment of the chaplainship to Congs. is a palpable violation of equal rights, as well as of Constitutional principles.

Those who accept freedom of religion as a right are obligated by this acceptance to take the maintenance of freedom of religion as a duty.

Among the features peculiar to the political system of the United States, is the perfect equality of rights which it secures to every religious sect.