To what extent...

[McBell]

I hear people saying they support separation of church and state, but they never seem to explain to what extent.

If someone commits a crime in a church, should the state have to stay out of it?

 

[Deidre]

That's not what the phrase means lol

 

[McBell]

That's not what the phrase means lol

I agree.
however, based upon some posts by certain theists, it seems they actually think that the state should remain completely out of the church.

 

[McBell]

Another example is the Catholic Church protecting the pedophile priests.
Some think that the church should be the only ones to handle it.
Period.
that the priests should not even be investigated by anyone or any group/organization outside the church.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

The church needs to stay out of the affairs of the state, and the state, to a reasonable degree, needs to stay outside of the church.
By reasonable degree, the state should ban practices that cause harm to those who don't consent to it, not taking children to a doctor, suicide cults, punish those who prey upon the weak and desperate, and being belligerent towards non-adherents. And, yes, they should also make the WBC stay very far away from funeral homes and cemeteries.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Another example is the Catholic Church protecting the pedophile priests.

The committed a crime, they caused harm to a victim, the state should prosecute them.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I hear people saying they support separation of church and state, but they never seem to explain to what extent.

If someone commits a crime in a church, should the state have to stay out of it?

If someone commits a crime as defined by the state, they should have consequences regardless if it's in the Church or not.

For example, if someone stole the sacramental wine and bread from the Church, that is illegal regardless of the religious connections to what was stolen. Likewise with any crime.

Crime as defined by a particular religion, such as dropping the Eucharist on the floor, is not illegal by state laws; so, that's where state and Church divides.

I do not agree that the Church (or I'll say religion) has a right to dictate what citizens should do if those citizens do not adhere to the tenants of that faith. I see it happen here a lot; and, it is sad and wrong.

 

[Deidre]

Another example is the Catholic Church protecting the pedophile priests.
Some think that the church should be the only ones to handle it.
Period.
that the priests should not even be investigated by anyone or any group/organization outside the church.

Those people would be wrong. No church or religious organization should usurp the legal system, if crimes are committed by their clergy, staff, members, etc and they are aware of them.

 

[George-ananda]

I hear people saying they support separation of church and state, but they never seem to explain to what extent.

State law supersedes church law.

If someone commits a crime in a church, should the state have to stay out of it?

No, state authority supersedes the church authority.

 

[psychoslice]

I think you have to use your common sense, of course if a religious person breaks the law, then they must face the law, as Jesus supposedly said, ""Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's.".

 

[gotham_girl]

It doesn't matter if the crime was committed in the Church or outside it, as the Church isn't a geographical location outside of the State. The State is secular and hence, the Church comes under the State, not the other way round.

 

[Mistah Bunneh]

Another example is the Catholic Church protecting the pedophile priests.
Some think that the church should be the only ones to handle it.

Here is an interesting tidbit, not the first or last and it could be any religion:
www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/11/10/outcast-3

 

[Timothy Bryce]

It doesn't matter if the crime was committed in the Church or outside it, as the Church isn't a geographical location outside of the State. The State is secular and hence, the Church comes under the State, not the other way round.

Then the question is raised as to whether the state should have more intervention into the affairs of the church. What this intervention should be and how far it should go.

I would definitely argue that most churches worldwide have FAR too much immunity and protection from laws and enquiries that would otherwise be easily enforced upon corporations, educational institutions, etc.

The Catholic Church today is essentially just the riches trust fund on the face of the earth and it enjoys privileges that are unheard of in almost every other arena. This is actually one issue where the media has actually been fighting a good and pure fight for 25+ years now. I don't think it's possible for the Catholic Church to receive enough criticism and negative press at this point.

This is a step in the right direction and an example of a state interfering with the church's affairs:

https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/