Michel Eyquen de Montaigne
French philosopher and essayist
(1533-1592)

"There is no man so good, who, were he to submit all his thoughts to the laws, would not deserve hanging ten times in his life."
Michel Eyquen Montaigne
Essays
Book III, Chapter 1

Of course, this does not always apply to the popes,
priests, or legislators among us...

"The death sentence is a necessary and efficacious means for the Church to attain its ends when rebels against it disturb the ecclesiastical unity, especially obstinate heretics who cannot be restrained by any other penalty from continuing to disturb ecclesiastical order."
POPE LEO XIII
Gioacchino Pecci
"Book of Canon Law" Preface, Volume 2
by M. de Luca, Society of Jesus
1901

"When the existence of the Church is threatened, she is released from the commandments of morality. With unity as the end, the use of every means is sanctified, even cunning, treachery, violence, simony, prison, death. For all order is for the sake of the community, and the individual must be sacrificed for the common good."
Dietrich von Nieheim
Bishop of Verden
De schismate libri III, AD 1411

94. Capital Laws

If any man after legall conviction shall have or worship any other god, but the lord god, he shall be put to death.

If any man or woman be a witch, (that is hath consulteth with a familiar spirit,) They shall be put to death.

If any person shall Blaspheme the name of god, the father, Sonne or Holie ghost, with direct, expresse, presumptuousor high handed blasphemie, or shall curse God in the like manner, he shall be put to death.

MASSACHUSETTS COLONY
"Body of Liberties"
1641

"Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom of 1786"
Thomas Jefferson's thankfully succesful attempt
to separate church and state in America.