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Quote by Roger Sherman

“Congress has no power to make any religious establishments.”

Author

Roger Sherman was an American politician and lawyer, born on April 19, 1721, and died on July 23, 1793. He was one of the drafters of the United States Constitution and served as a United States Representative, Senator, and judge among other roles. more

“The American states have gone far in assisting the progress of truth; but they have stopped short of perfection. They ought to have given every honest citizen an equal right to enjoy his religion and an equal title to all civil emoluments, without obliging him to tell his religion. Every interference of the civil power in regulating opinion, is an impious attempt to take the business of the Deity out of his own hands; and every preference given to any religious denomination, is so far slavery and bigotry.”

Source: Sketches of American Policy Under the Following Heads: I. Theory of Government, II. Governments on the Eastern Continent, III. American States, Or, the Principles of the American Constitutions Contrasted with Those of European States, IV. Plan of Policy for Improving the Advantages and Perpetuating the Union of the American States

“God has appointed two kinds of government in the world, which are distinct in their nature, and ought never to be confounded together; one of which is called civil, the other ecclesiastical government.”

World Kind Two Government Together Father Religious Ought Church And State Separation Of Church And State Founding Fathers Christian State Government Separation Between Church And State Founding Fathers Religious Christian Father

Book:An Appeal to the Public for Religious Liberty Against the Oppressions of the Present Day

Source: An Appeal to the Public for Religious Liberty Against the Oppressions of the Present Day

“Knowledge and liberty are so prevalent in this country, that I do not believe that the United States would ever be disposed to establish one religious sect, and lay all others under legal disabilities. But as we know not what may take place hereafter, and any such test would be exceedingly injurious to the rights of free citizens, I cannot think it altogether superfluous to have added a clause, which secures us from the possibility of such oppression.”