Many of the evils we lament today, of which the Massachussettes ruling is only the latest, can be properly adduced to the shift away from man as a Divinely created being to man as an animal.
Plato's Republic has been a favorite utopian model for liberals over the ages, yet in that work Plato demanded that men be keenly aware of their accountability for earthly actions before God. Lacking this component, "Republics" like the former U.S.S.R, China, and smaller communist dicatorships have not produced liberty and happiness, but slavery and misery. Plato rightly doubted that his Republic would ever materialize on earth.
And to the extent that we collectively legislate God out of the public square, we deny any activity at all and will find ourselves enslaved and miserable.
Arthur: Thanks for having the courage and moral fortitude to bring these unpleasant realities into the halls of free public discourse. These are not only worthy topics, but mandatory.
There is a fine difference; WHAT was written previously had it worded as if God was exiting of his own accord - THIS is what I meant when I said "I don't see any sign of this."
One would have to be deviod of his very senses to see that God is being ushered slowly but surely from any prescence, sign or indication in our daily lives.
DO you get the finer difference I just pointed out?
The conversion of Russia/the USSR was prominent on the Catholic's list of things to pray for during that period we now call "The Cold War", and, I would say, the result that was achieved, it's eventual dissolution. You *are* aware of this period in time and the prayers which were offered up for this to come about aren't you?
(Do you remember the visit by The Pope to Gen. Jaruzelski of Poland - and the communist general literally trembling on camera?)