RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE DIMINISHED EVERYWHERE

In spite of the American view that religion and government are separated in ways that go well beyond the establishment of a government-sanctioned church, there is no getting around the fact that governments everywhere are gaining the upper hand.

Look at Ireland and Italy, two countries where governments have been closely aligned with a predominant religion that has, over the years, greatly influenced both religious and cultural aspects of social legislation.

Ireland refused to sanction divorce for decades under unrelenting pressure from the Roman Catholic Church. As a result, few Irish couples sought divorce as a remedy of convenience to unhappy unions.

And Italy banned abortion for years but now has approved the use of the so-called morning-after pill, which has brought a stern condemnation from the Vatican.

Do you see a trend here? Whereas governments were once influenced by strong religious convictions, whole societies are being changed by governments that choose to ignore religious sanctions. This is what happens when God is stripped from public life.