Granting Plea For Religious Liberty In King
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This freedom means that all men are to be immune from coercion on the part of individuals or of social groups and of any human power… By “religious freedom,” the Council meant men “are to be immune from coercion.” This is absolutely consonant with Catholic teaching.
The First Amendment does more than just prohibit the establishment of an official state religion, e.g., the Church of England. Recognizing the importance of religious beliefs to those who hold them, the Amendment is meant to prohibit any governmental interference with religion.
Instead, participation in a religion would become a personal choice. This notion of “liberty of conscience,” as Williams called it, meant that church and state would remain separate.
While Williams was not the first person to call for church-state separation and freedom of worship for all, Rhode Island was the first place in modern history where such separation was put into practice. The colony was a haven that welcomed people not tolerated elsewhere—Quakers, Jews, and others.
Speak up with courage and civility. Speak or write calmly. Seek true understanding. Acknowledge legitimate points. And explain why the freedoms you defend are so important to you, your loved ones, and the Church—make it personal.
He returned to England in 1643 to settle a political dispute by obtaining a charter for Providence. By this time, troubles within Providence had shown Williams that it was difficult to govern explosive spirits, and he began to focus more on religious liberty than on pushing Massachusetts into separation from England.
Freedom of religion is a founding principle of American democracy. One of the strongest advocates of this American ideal was Roger Williams. Throughout his life, Williams fought for the idea that religion should not be subject to regulation by the government, but that it should be an individual freedom.
The idea of creating a community that allowed individuals to follow the religion of their choice was brought to Rhode Island by Roger Williams in 1636.