Unfortunately the “State” already controls virtually all of the protestant denominations through the 501c3 non-profit corporation status.
Connecticut lawmakers moved this week to directly attack the self-governing rights of the Catholic Church.
The Diocese of Bridgeport is calling on Catholics across the state to mobilize and “fight the irrational, unlawful, and bigoted Proposed Bill #1098/2009“:
This past Thursday, March 5, the Judiciary Committee of the Connecticut State Legislature, which is chaired by Sen. Andrew McDonald of Stamford and Rep. Michael Lawlor of East Haven, introduced a bill that directly attacks the Roman Catholic Church and our Faith.
This bill violates the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. It forces a radical reorganization of the legal, financial, and administrative structure of our parishes. This is contrary to the Apostolic nature of the Catholic Church because it disconnects parishes from their Pastors and their Bishop. Parishes would be run by boards from which Pastors and the Bishop would be effectively excluded.
This bill, moreover, is a thinly-veiled attempt to silence the Catholic Church on the important issues of the day, such as same-sex marriage.
The State has no right to interfere in the internal affairs and structure of the Catholic Church. This bill is directed only at the Catholic Church but could someday be forced on other denominations. The State has no business controlling religion. (source: Bridgeport Diocese)
Read the full article here.
What really gets me with this is the whole question of separation of church and state. It seems that if we try and make any statement or move to have a say in what the government says or does it is then stopped because of separation of church and state. However, if it is something they want (government) to have a say in churches then it is perfectly ok. Separation of church and state if this is really what the constitution says in the first place is a two way street. They have to accept it both ways and let us have a say in what happens in America. Fortunately, though the constitution does not suggest separation of church and state only that the national and state governments may not create a state church, such as the baptist church.