If naturalists go to heaven (about which there is considerable ecclesiastical doubt), I hope that I will be furnished with a troop of kakapo to amuse me in the evening instead of television.
The Athanasian Creed is the most splendid ecclesiastical lyric ever poured forth by the genius of man.
An archbishop is an ecclesiastical dignitary one point holier than a bishop.
For most people reform meant relief from ecclesiastical extortions.
God has appointed two kinds of government in the world, which are distinct in their nature, and ought never to be confounded together; one of which is called civil, the other ecclesiastical government.
It is an unsufferable blasphemy to reject the public ministry or to say that people can become holy without sermons and Church. This involves a destruction of the Church and rebellion against ecclesiastical order; such upheavals must be warded off and punished like all other revolts.
Papal infallibility and biblical inerrancy are the two ecclesiastical versions of this human idolatry. Both papal infallibility and biblical inerrancy require widespread and unchallenged ignorance to sustain their claims to power. Both are doomed as viable alternatives for the long- range future of anyone.
If I could have entertained the slightest apprehension that the Constitution framed in the Convention where I had the honor to preside might possibly endanger the religious rights of any ecclesiastical society, certainly I would never have placed my signature to it.
Scripture would not only solve the individual and family divisions, but it would also solve the ecclesiastical confusion.
The art of not reading is a very important one. It consists in not taking an interest in whatever may be engaging the attention of the general public at any particular time. When some political or ecclesiastical pamphlet, or novel, or poem is making a great commotion, you should remember that he who writes for fools always finds a large public. A precondition for reading good books is not reading bad ones: for life is short.
Ambition is the ecclesiastical lust.
God's grace is not limited by any ecclesiastical barriers.
In my judgment, while it is the duty of Congress to respect to the uttermost the conscientious convictions and religious scruples of every citizen. . . not any ecclesiastical organization can be safely permitted to usurp in the smallest degree the functions and powers of the national government.
It behooves us unanimously and inviolably to observe the ecclesiastical traditions, whether codified or simply retained by the customary practice of the Church.
MONSIGNOR- A high ecclesiastical title, of which the Founder of our religion overlooked the advantages.
Ecclesiastical establishments tend to great ignorance and corruption
