Catholics in the Public Square: A Study in Conflict and Influence

Bradley Birzer, Ph.D.

The intersection between church and state has always been a sticking point for Americans, especially for those in public office. During recent election cycles, we’ve witnessed spiritual compromise by self-described Catholic politicians and the attack of popular media against socially conservative candidates. This year, the tension between church and state came to a head with the major confrontation between the Catholic Bishops and the Obama administration over policy decisions.

Dr. Bradley Birzer reaches deep into American history to present a study of the conflict between Catholics, the Church, and the federal government. The Founding Fathers made it clear they believed that personal religion had everything to do with politics – but somewhere in our country’s history we’ve lost that understanding.