Keep church out of state

For this Irish Catholic, schooled from first grade to graduate school in

Catholic institutions, I am horrified by the influence the Catholic Church has played in politics in recent years.

Separation of church and state are part of the bedrock of the U.S. Constitution, but all the way to the Supreme Court, Catholic politicians and many Catholic voters have trampled on that separation, even to lying to Congress as they were being confirmed to the court.

When did the U.S. Catholic Church decide to drift from being a religion and spiritual leader for social justice,

and instead, crash into dictating to the rest of the country what their morality should be? I find it puzzling, sad, and now, truly horrifying. The idea that religious institutions should be “in charge,” dictating legal behavior for the country, is not only wrong, but against the hope of democracy going forward.

We are losing the country to religious views that are like those of the Taliban and all other authoritarian countries ruled by zealots. That 50 years of law will be overturned by the

Supreme Court should horrify all except more religious zealots.

Have your religion. Don’t force it on others. The writers of the Constitution knew that mixing religion and politics corrupts both the religion and the state.

I am saddened and horrified by religious zealots, especially the Catholic ones. Go back, Catholic leaders and followers, to helping the poor, comforting the grieving, and working for social equality. Stop forcing your religion on others.

Shannon Griscom, Palo Alto

Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle Diem Vo casts a ballot in San Francisco City Hall on Feb. 15 in a special city election. Low voter turnout usually benefits a motivated minority.