DH:

A) Well, if you don't want to post it, send me a PM. As a matter of principle, the notion is hooey, imho.

B) MY NAME AIN'T PETER! he said sacharenely.

does seperation of church and state mean that only atheist or agnostics are suitable people for public life?

i don't think so.

are there times when people's personal moral standards vary with the laws of the land? sure..

here in NYS, we've had both catholic and epispicalian governer's who have made it clear they are opposed (personally) to both the death penalty and abortion.

One, veto'd every death penalty bill the NYS assembly passed, and for years, there was no death penalty in NYS.

but--he did nothing (didn't lobby, didn't campaign, didn't try to enact rules and regulations about abortion-since he came into office and this was (post roe vs.wade) the law of the land.

(there were no efforts in the NYS assembly to do anything to modify, or make abortions more difficult to abtain, so there was no legislation to veto)

since then, a second (openly religious man, who has personally stated he, too is personally against the death penalty)has been governer.
and since then NYS assembly has enacted (and the governer let pass) a death penalty law. he did not veto it, even though he was personally against the law.
(curiously, there have not been anyone convicted and sentenced with death--)

so its possible (at least in NYS!) for people to have moral convictions that are at odds with the law of the land, and for them to recognize that they have sworn to uphold the laws of the state

and since such laws currently allow for both the death penalty and for extremely free access to abortions, they do as they have sworn to do. (not as they would personaly do)

I think it is quite possible for reasonable people to recognize there is both secular law (and be a judge) and canon law (and be a active member of a church).

there is an element of christianity that says, render unto cesear that which is cesear's, and unto god, that which is god. Part of our tradition is to recognize (but keep seperate) relegion and law.

like wise here, we can talk about religion, but we general find the idea of prostilitizing unacceptable. (likewise, we do not mock or denigrade any religous belief's)

we also find the idea of political rallying to be off limits.

i won't incur any wrath for talking about the political history of the process of enacting a death penalty law in NYS.. but my own opinions, (should we have the death penaly as an option, in the law?) are not generally welcome.

its is difficult often to discuss these often emotional subjects with out expressing our personal philosophies. so, like good company, in many places, we don't discuss religion or politics here, or at the dinner table (with guests)

some might know (or think they know) my opinions on these subjects, and they may (or may not) be right. living in NY, i could be classified as a 'typical liberal'--but then again, i was raised catholic, and i am irish, and the family is filled with cops and members of law enforcement.(one generation all cops, the next,a mix of cops and Ast DA's) so am i typical liberal? or a law and order person?

it doesn't matter. this forum is not a place we discuss such philosophies.

Is this something happening in the U.S. that most folks are aware of there?

Any answer to that would be discussing politics, no?

Helen: Thank you for your comprehensive On-Topic followup, proving conclusively that there are a few of us who are willing to navigate my windy sentences

Insel: Sorry, but what shoud I post

DH: see your post starting "Peter"

A) Well, if you don't want to post it

(by "it" do you mean my followup above addressing you),

send me a PM

(most abject apologies, but still don't know what a PM is)

As a matter of principle, the notion is hooey, imho

(you might be right, but which notion, precisely)

Insel, I'm sincerely not trying to be obtuse, it just isn't clear to this old, decrepit non-ggeek at the onset of Alzheimer's, what you need

Dale, PM means "private message." You can tell if you have one by the flashing icon underneath "Welcome, dalehileman" at the top of your page. Click on that.

> flashing icon underneath

or next to.

Peter: Forgive, but I'm still not quite sure what it is I'm to forward by the PM. But I'm certain it's not so personal that I can't say it here

Sheesh.

Dale, have you noted--this board is at wordsmith DOT org?

Anu needs some support to keep it going, (and has low key ads) but its largely a commercial free space.

we (oops, me, myself, i) like that.. so i (and a whole bunch of other people) tend not to post links to commerical sites (ok, so dictionaries sites are exceptions) if some one has an interest in something, (like say a rice cooker)
and someone else has a suggestion.. its likely to be done by PM--we--oops, there i go again being imperial!--don't often post links to stores, or suppliers, or other commercail sites.

Its not carved in stone (there are exceptions) but its sort of general rule.. (man oh man, i must be tired, we don't have no stinkin rules..)

well that the idea anyway.. (but being human, i am sure i have made a mistake or two... and posted something inappropriate once in a while.. and.. well..