Quote #39

"In order to advance a principle of freedom, and in order not to threaten the religious establishments of the several states, the founders did a historically unprecedented thing. In the first provision of the First Amendment, they declared that the national government abdicated control of religious brlief and practice. To be sure, this was a matter of practical politics as well as principle. Given the competing Protestant denominations of the time, it was unthinkable that the founders would establish one as the national religion. But practical politics can also be in the service of principle." -- Richard John Neuhaus, American Babylon, pg. 39.

Quote #38

"The aim of any good constitution is to achievein a society a high degree of political harmony,so that order and justice and freedom may be maintained." -- Russell Kirk

Quote #37

"The principle reason for performing exterior penance is to secure three effects:
1. To make satisfaction for past sins;
2. To overcome oneself, that is, to make our sensual nature obey reason, and to bring all of our lower faculties into greater subjection to the higher;
3. To obtain some grace or gift that one earnestly desires. Thus it may be that one wants a deep sorrow for sin, or tears, either because of his sins or because of the pains and sufferigns of Christ our Lord; or he may want the solution of some doubt that is in his mind." -- St. Ignatius Loyola, Spiritual Exercises.