Separation Of Church and State?

Section Sixteen of Article 1 of the Minnesota Constitution states:

Sec. 16. FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE; NO PREFERENCE TO BE GIVEN TO ANY RELIGIOUS ESTABLISHMENT OR MODE OF WORSHIP. The enumeration of rights in this constitution shall not deny or impair others retained by and inherent in the people. The right of every man to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience shall never be infringed; nor shall any man be compelled to attend, erect or support any place of worship, or to maintain any religious or ecclesiastical ministry, against his consent; nor shall any control of or interference with the rights of conscience be permitted, or any preference be given by law to any religious establishment or mode of worship; but the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness or justify practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of the state, nor shall any money be drawn from the treasury for the benefit of any religious societies or religious or theological seminaries.

According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, the word interdict means:

1 : a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical censure withdrawing most sacraments and Christian burial from a person or district

Yesterday, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty appeared on Hugh Hewitt's nationally syndicated talk radio show. According to Hugh:

And yes, the governor did extend the interdict against the FratersLibertas rogues for another five years...

Clearly this is a gross violation of the powers of the office of governor and an equally egregious violation of the Minnesota Constitution. Now if the Pope were to issue an interdict against us (as I believe he did against Atomizer some years ago), we would of course recognize and comply with it. But Governor Pawlenty? Never!