---In the United States, the Church has NO spiritual authority over the republic or any of the states---
In that the Church is the Mystical Body of Christ, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, She has spiritual authority over ALL governments irrespective of their geographic location.
As to temporal authority, Christ instructed us to "render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."
Campion is stating, if I am citing him correctly, that it would have been far better for Kennedy to lose his election not because he would have been indebted to a foreign power, but because his obligation was first to God.
As St. Thomas More said, "I am the King's good subject, but God's first."
Frank
Isn't Frank Sheed, like, dead?
Very wise my FRiend.
I would rather quit my job than lose my soul.
Cleverly stated, that. When/if one reaches the conclusion that ALL things ultimately belong to God. One has precious little use for Caesar.
Of course, there are those that love Caesar so much they want to hand everything over to him. Those types generally have precious little use for God. (Except as a scapegoat for the world's evils).