EDITORIAL
(Subject: JFK on Church and State)
The nomination of John F. Kennedy, a Roman Catholic, for the presidency of
the United States brought church-state issues back to the forefront of
political discussion. Various church bodies and church leaders became
involved in the campaign, blurring already unclear distinctions between
church and state. But "the preservation of a free church in a free state
demands nothing less than the separation of church and state." Thus neither
institution exercises authority over the other, and the distinctive and
important role of each is preserved within its own sphere. Religion "needs
neither the sanction nor the support of the state." If nothing else, the
election highlighted the need for clear definition of the principle of
separation.
JCS 2 (November 1960):94-99
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THE PROBLEM OF FREEDOM
Human freedom is "the greatest single issue before mankind today, and
freedom is the real issue in the relationship between church and state."
Statism offers a new challenge to freedom, and demands a loyalty which
subverts even loyalty to one's religious faith. Statism has its own ritual
and its own gospel, and it does not allow for dissent. Protection for
minority rights must be maintained against all forms of statism, from the
Soviet denial of the right of the church to exist to a too fervent American
nationalism
JCS 3 (May 1961):1-5
SOURCE: Annotations of Journal of Church and State, Editorials and
Articles. The Separation of Church & State Defended. Slected Writings of
James E. Wood, Jr, Edited with an intriduction by Derel H. Davis, J. M.
Dawson Institute of Church-State Studoes. Baylor University, Waco, Texas,
(1995) p. 274-75
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