The Separation of Church and State | Straight Talk, episode 19 (Tim Rumsey)

Pathway to Paradise Ministries

Jul 29, 2026  Straight Talk: The Religious Liberty Podcast

The separation of church and state has served this country well for nearly 250 years. If morality is declining, let the churches start preaching truth once again. If attacks against Christians continue, let the courts fulfill their appointed duty and administer justice. But don't eradicate the separation that has protected both church and state from each other, and granted religious liberty to millions of people of all faiths.

JD Vance Just Pushed This Sunday Law Nobody Saw Coming

 

The Footprints of the Jesuits by R. W. Thompson.

The civil institutions of the United States could not have been formed without the separation of Church and State, and could not continue to exist if they were again united. Christianity could not maintain its primitive purity if politics and religious faith were mingled together; nor could the State preserve its capacity to provide for the general welfare if subjected to the dominion of ecclesiastical authority. Our success as a nation is mainly attributable to the fact that these sentiments are deeply imbedded in the American mind.

A party pledged to restore to the pope the temporal power which the Italian people have taken away, must necessarily be politico-religious in character, because it proposes to interfere with the temporal affairs of one of the European nations. And if the attempt to do this is justified upon the ground that such restoration involves religious duty, any one can see that the obligation is the same in the United States as in Italy, for the laws of God do not shift to suit the exigencies of human affairs.

In the times before the Reformation the temporal affairs of Governments were required to conform to the commands of the ecclesiastical authority—that is, the pope—and it was held to be a necessary and essential part of religion that this union should be continued, no matter what might be the degree of popular ignorance and humiliation. The founders of our Government started out upon a different theory, believing it to be[Pg 4] their duty to separate "the things of God" from "the things of Cæsar," so that each could reach perfection in its own distinct sphere. Therefore, it is clear that a politico-religious party in this country, pledged to unite Church and State in Italy, against the expressed will of the Italian people, not only must oppose one of the fundamental principles of our Government, but disturb the public peace.

To my mind it is also clear that a nation acts politically, and not religiously, when it decides upon the structure of its temporal Government—that is, whether its affairs shall be managed by an absolute or elective monarch, or by machinery provided by a written constitution. I have, therefore, refrained from the discussion or criticism of religious belief—as it is understood in the American sense—any further than it is made the pretext for the reversal of this opinion, so generally prevalent in this country. It would be an evil day for the people of the United States if they should be persuaded to permit any power whatsoever, whether temporal or spiritual, at home or abroad, to share with them any portion of their political authority, or to dictate, in any degree, the measures of their civil polity.

MOMENTS: Pope Leo Shares Lunch With Vulnerable People, Says He Came With 'Hunger for Justice'

 

The Council for Inclusive Capitalism with the Vatican Launches

The Council for Inclusive Capitalism with the Vatican Launches

By Council Staff
December 08, 2020

THE COUNCIL ANSWERS THE CHALLENGE BY POPE FRANCIS TO APPLY PRINCIPLES OF MORALITY TO BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT PRACTICES

ORGANIZATIONS COMMIT TO CONCRETE ACTION TO CREATE A MORE EQUITABLE, SUSTAINABLE AND TRUSTED ECONOMIC SYSTEM

The Council for Inclusive Capitalism with the Vatican, an effort led by some of the world’s largest investment and business leaders, launched today. It signifies the urgency of joining moral and market imperatives to reform capitalism into a powerful force for the good of humanity. Under the moral guidance of His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence Cardinal Peter Turkson, who leads the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development at the Vatican, and inspired by the moral imperative of all faiths, the Council invites companies of all sizes to harness the potential of the private sector to build a fairer, more inclusive, and sustainable economic foundation for the world.

The Council is led by a core group of global leaders, known as Guardians for Inclusive Capitalism, who meet annually with Pope Francis and Cardinal Turkson. These leaders represent more than $10.5 trillion in assets under management, companies with over $2.1 trillion of market capitalization, and 200 million workers in over 163 countries. The organization challenges business and investment leaders of all sizes to embrace the Council’s guiding principles and make public commitments to act on them. These collective actions are intended to lead to systemic change by making capitalism a greater force for inclusivity and sustainability. Watch a video of the Guardians discussing the Council’s mission here.

Speaking to the Guardians, Pope Francis said, “An economic system that is fair, trustworthy, and capable of addressing the most profound challenges facing humanity and our planet is urgently needed. You have taken up the challenge by seeking ways to make capitalism become a more inclusive instrument for integral human wellbeing.”

The Guardians have already committed to hundreds of measurable actions, and Council members will make ongoing commitments to continue to advance inclusive capitalism. They will be accountable for their public commitments and invite businesses around the world to join. View the full list of actions being taken here.

They’re Killing Church and State Separation… and an Adventist is Helping

FULL ADDRESS: Pope Leo XIV in Spain Says "World Is Crying for Peace" at Royal Palace Madrid | AK14

Rededicate 250: Pastor Gary Hamrick to call for national repentance, rebuke 'lies of gender confusion, marriage redefinition'

By Ian M. Giatti, Christian Post Reporter
Thursday, May 14, 2026

An undated photo of Pastor Gary Hamrick teaching at Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, Virginia. | Courtesy Cornerstone Chapel

As thousands prepare to gather at the National Mall on Sunday to pray for the nation ahead of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations, Cornerstone Chapel Senior Pastor Gary Hamrick is calling for national repentance and a return to the God of the Bible.

Hamrick, who is one of over a dozen pastors set to speak at “Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving” on May 17, says his message to the nation is the same as that of the Apostle Peter at the dawn of the Christian era.

“Rededication begins with repentance,” Hamrick told The Christian Post. “Acts 3:19 says, ‘Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.’ We must turn from our sin and turn to God and stand upon the solid rock of Jesus Christ, because He is the only hope for the soul of our nation. Jesus is always the answer.”

While the “Rededicate 250” event is expected to mark the nation’s largest religious gathering in more than 50 years, Hamrick expressed concern that despite a rich heritage of religious freedom, the country has drifted from its founding principles when it comes to issues like abortion, marriage and gender identity.

JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, 2026

JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, 2026

Proclamations
May 4, 2026

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

This Jewish American Heritage Month, we honor the countless contributions of Jewish Americans throughout our Nation’s 250 glorious years of independence, and we celebrate their unwavering commitment to the values that make our country great — faith, family, and freedom.

In his letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1790, President George Washington beautifully said, “May the Children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other Inhabitants; while everyone shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.” Since the earliest days of our Republic, Jewish Americans have helped build the cause of liberty and sustain the greatness of our Nation. Among them was the iconic Haym Salomon, an early supporter of the war for independence. As stories tell us, Salomon was instrumental in the success of our Continental Congress and Founding Fathers, and rallied support for freedom. He was a zealous advocate against tyranny, and even after imprisonment by the British Crown, he continued his work in defense of freedom. In the end, he gave everything to the success of the American Revolution. Like so many Jewish Americans who follow in his footsteps, Salomon’s legacy stands as a testament to the unshakable belief in the American promise.

In the same letter to the Hebrew Congregation at Newport, President Washington proclaimed that the United States “gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.” Under my leadership, we are aggressively fighting the violence against Jewish Americans that increased under my predecessor, prosecuting hateful criminals to the fullest extent of the law, and working to end the scourge of anti-Semitism throughout our institutions, especially on college campuses. As President, I will never stop fighting to protect our birthright of religious freedom — a sacred right that continues to guide our Nation, drawing us closer to the Almighty each and every day.

Throughout this historic year, we rejoice in the triumph of the American spirit and rededicate ourselves to the cause of liberty and justice for all. In special honor of 250 glorious years of American independence and on the weekend of Rededicate 250 — a national jubilee of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving — Jewish Americans are encouraged to observe a national Sabbath. From sundown on May 15 to nightfall on May 16, friends, families, and communities of all backgrounds may come together in gratitude for our great Nation. This day will recognize the sacred Jewish tradition of setting aside time for rest, reflection, and gratitude to the Almighty.

This month, we celebrate the contributions that Jewish Americans have made to our way of life, we honor their role in shaping the story of our Nation, and we remember that religious devotion, learning, and service to others are enduring pillars of a thriving culture. Through every trial and triumph, the contributions of Jewish Americans have shaped our past, have strengthened our communities, and will continue to inspire American greatness for generations to come.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2026 as Jewish American Heritage Month. I call upon Americans to celebrate the heritage and contributions of Jewish Americans and to observe this month with appropriate programs, activities, and ceremonies. I further call on all Americans to celebrate their faith and freedom throughout this year, during this month, and especially on Shabbat to celebrate our 250th year.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.

​​​​​​DONALD J. TRUMP

Source

He feels God saved him': Trump reads Bible verse in Oval Office | American Agenda

 

The Religious Liberty Commission Chairman says "There is no Separation of Church and State in The Constitution"

The Religious Liberty Commission Chairman says "There is no Separation of Church and State in The Constitution"

April 16, 2026 Gerry Wagoner



The Religious Liberty Commission (RLC) is a federal advisory body established by the President via executive order in May 2025. It is chaired by Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (with Dr. Ben Carson as vice chair) and includes various faith leaders and public figures. Its job is to examine the foundations and current state of religious liberty in America, identify threats to it, and make policy recommendations to the White House—particularly on protecting free exercise of religion. This is something we can support. Maybe.

Recent concern stems from the commission's final hearing on April 13, 2026, at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. During that session, Chair Dan Patrick stated:“It is time to set the record straight:

“There is no such thing as ‘separation of church and state’ in the Constitution. For too long, the anti-God left has used this phrase to suppress people of religion in our country.”

He and other participants argued that the phrase has been weaponized to restrict religious expression in public life, schools, government, and elsewhere, and that witnesses across the commission's hearings described it as eroding God-given rights. Patrick suggested recommendations like posting notices in schools and businesses affirming religious liberty protections while calling the separation idea “the biggest lie that’s been told in America since our founding.”

Constitutional Facts

It is true that the exact phrase “separation of church and state” does not appear in the U.S. Constitution. It originates from Thomas Jefferson’s 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptist Association, where he described the First Amendment as building “a wall of separation between Church & State.”

The Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment states:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”

This prohibits the federal government from doing two things:

• Establishing an official national religion (or compelling support for one).
• Prohibiting individuals or groups from freely exercising their religion.

JD Vance's New Memoir About His Conversion to Catholicism Shows a Methodist Church on the Cover

The vice president's upcoming second memoir details his return to religion as an adult

By
Meredith Kile

Published on April 1, 2026 03:31PM EDT

Vice President JD Vance; the 'Communion' cover, with a stock photo by Tim Pennington.Credit :
Courtesy of the White House; HarperCollins Publishers

NEED TO KNOW

• Vice President JD Vance is releasing a new book about his return to religion as an adult
• Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith will explore why the vice president initially left Christianity and how he returned to the church later in life by converting to Catholicism
• The cover of the book features a photo of a Methodist church in rural Virginia, not a Catholic one

Vice President JD Vance is releasing a new memoir about his return to religion as an adult ahead of the midterm elections and a possible run for president in 2028.

On March 31, Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, announced the forthcoming publication of Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith, set to arrive this summer.

Welcome to the age of Catholic America… Anyone concerned?

 

Consecration of the United States for the 250th Anniversary of the Country

 

Consecration of the United States for the 250th Anniversary of the Country

Catholics for Catholics

Mar 27, 2026

Full Benediction and Consecration of the United States for it's 250th anniversary at the 3rd annual Catholic Prayer For America Gala on Thursday March 19, 2026, feast of St. Joseph. Celebrating 250 years of the United States! Watch the full event: https://www.youtube.com/live/Qa79PD7TreM

From ZERO to MAJORITY?! — 5 Countries That Shockingly Became Catholic

National Catholic Prayer Breakfast highlights: Letter from Pope Leo, talks by Michael Knowles, Jonathan Roumie

Jonathan Roumie speaks at 2026 National Catholic Prayer Breakfast. YouTube screengrab

By McKenna Snow


More than 1,000 people came together in Washington, D.C., March 19 for the annual National Catholic Prayer Breakfast to pray for the country, which was an effort commended by Pope Leo XIV in a letter to attendees.

Archbishop Joseph Naumann, archbishop emeritus of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas, read the Pope’s message at the event. According to EWTN News, which livestreamed the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, the annual event began in 2004 in response to Pope Saint John Paul II’s “call for a new evangelization.”

The tradition of praying for one’s nation goes back to biblical times, Pope Leo noted, recalling that Saint Paul invited Christians to pray specifically for people in authoritative positions, “confident that their prayer, united to that of Christ, would be both powerful and effective.”

The Pontiff also recalled the history of the annual event and how Pope John Paul II asked the faithful “to re-evangelize cultures that were previously Christianized long ago, with methods that are appropriate to our own time.” This mission, Pope Leo said, cannot be separated from cultivating “a deep friendship with God in prayer,” emphasizing that spending time with Jesus daily with an open heart enables one to know Him and be transformed by His grace.

“It is in this light that I would like to reiterate the ongoing need for evangelization, and at the same time, invite you to persevere in a truly authentic and fruitful life of prayer,” Pope Leo continued.

Sunday Rest Proposal Raises Troubling Religious Liberty Concerns

A response by the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists

January 18, 2026

Columbia, Maryland.



A proposal by a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy organization to legally recognize and enforce a “uniform day of rest” represents a disturbing disregard for the religious freedom of all Americans. The Heritage Foundation’s document, “Saving America by Saving the Family,” calls for states and local municipalities to restrict commercial activities on Sunday as a way to promote spiritual engagement and provide a regular day of relaxation for American workers.

Seventh-day Adventists believe all people have been created in God’s image with the freedom to worship according to the dictates of their conscience. For more than 160 years, the Church has forcefully advocated against any form of Sunday law. Adventists have always understood these laws — whether at a local, state, or federal level — as attempts to compel conscience, even when they are defended on pretextual secular grounds such as promoting the health of communities and families.

This new proposal for a “uniform day of rest” is irreconcilable with America’s rich heritage of protecting the religious freedom of all its citizens, regardless of their religious beliefs or nonbelief. It represents a dangerous desire to use state power to advance religious objectives. Restricting commercial activities on Sunday also raises serious practical concerns for members of those faiths that do not worship on Sunday, including Seventh-day Adventists and Orthodox Jews.

Sunday laws run counter to the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which preserves religious freedom for all Americans by requiring the government to remain neutral between different religious faiths. Our church leaders in the North American Division and the union conferences will continue to uphold the banner of truth and religious liberty, firmly opposing this proposal and any similar measures.

Copyright © 2026 North American Division Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists

Source

Sec. Hegseth’s "Spiritual Readiness" Push Sparks Constitutional Debate

 

"Spiritual Readiness" Push Sparks Constitutional Debate

Defense Now

Department of War | Pentagon Press Secretary Drops Major Announcement | US Senate Armed Services Committee

The Story: Today's Pentagon Prayer Service Today's event—scheduled for 12:00 PM EST in the Pentagon Auditorium—is the latest in a series of monthly "Christian prayer and worship services" instituted by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. 

The Angle: The core tension surrounding today's service is the invitation list. Recent emails were sent not only to active-duty personnel but also to U.S. defense contractors. This has drawn immediate scrutiny and formal complaints from watchdog groups like the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), who argue the outreach violates the separation of church and state. Several contractors have anonymously expressed feeling caught between a "rock and a hard place," fearing they might miss out on networking or government work if they don't attend. 

In response, the Pentagon maintains that the services are 100% voluntary, attendance is not tracked, and the gatherings are constitutionally protected events meant to boost morale and "spiritual readiness."

Leftist and liberal gun groups are seeing a rush of new members

By
Harmeet Kaur

People light candles at a makeshift memorial for Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis on January 24. Octavio Jones/AFP/Getty Images


Several niche, left-leaning gun advocacy groups said that since the killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis, they can hardly keep up with the surging demand for firearms training.

With President Donald Trump sending armed federal agents into communities around the country, even more once gun-shy liberals and leftists are considering getting armed. And while Americans tend to think of gun owners as leaning more Republican and male, already more women, gay people and people of color have taken up arms in recent years, particularly after 2020.

Weekend classes at L.A. Progressive Shooters are sold out through March. Registrations for permit-to-carry courses at Pink Pistols Twin Cities, which serves LGBTQ people in Minneapolis and St. Paul, are up from an average of five people per class to 25 — the group recently added seven more courses to accommodate increased interest, and those are filling up, too. To paraphrase a recent meme: The right is arguing for gun control, and the left is buying guns.

“In the past couple of days, there has been a shift,” Lara Smith, national spokesperson for the Liberal Gun Club, says. “This changed views on the left.”

Alex Pretti, a beloved ICU nurse who cared for ailing veterans and an outdoorsman who was concerned about the environment, was also, like one-third of Americans, a gun owner. He was carrying his lawfully owned weapon in a holster before federal agents disarmed him and then fatally shot him.

Jordan Levine, founder of the inclusive gun community A Better Way 2A, says his organization has seen an influx of gun groups and instructors asking to join its resource page in the last few weeks — Ready Rainbow in Chicago, Grassroots Defense in Iowa and Solidarity Defense in Sacramento are a few recent additions. “People are scared and angry and want to equalize the power imbalance that we’re seeing on the news, where you’ve got ICE steamrolling people with no recourse,” he adds.

Philip Smith, founder and president of the National African American Gun Association, says membership in his organization has grown since Trump’s second term began and since Pretti was killed. “People join when they’re scared,” Smith says. “People join when certain people get in office, because it scares them. People join when they see these shootings across the country, and it seems like it’s just madness starting to grow more and more.”

New National Religious Freedom Day honors America’s founding principle, Trump says

 Posted January 19, 2026



By Michaela Estruth

Michaela Estruth is a staff writer for The Lion. She graduated from Hillsdale College and has written for various publications including The Wall Street Journal, The Federalist, WORLD and RealClearReligion. 


Friday marked the first National Religious Freedom Day, celebrating America’s founding as “one nation under God” and upholding the free exercise of faith, according to an executive order from President Donald Trump.

“Every person is born with the God-given right to practice their faith, follow their conscience, and worship their God freely and without fear,” Trump said in the order. “This Religious Freedom Day, we honor America’s distinct place in the halls of history as the only republic ever founded upon this sacred principle – and we renew our commitment to upholding our proud legacy as one glorious nation under God.”

Trump designated Jan. 16 as National Religious Freedom Day to commemorate Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, which was codified into Virginia law on Jan. 16, 1786, according to the order.

“In that historic declaration, Founding Father Thomas Jefferson proclaimed that God ‘created the mind to be free’ and that every individual ‘shall be free to profess their opinion in matters of religion,’” Trump wrote.