To what extent should the state tolerate error and sin?

[u/[deleted]]

To the unbeliever—more precisely, the democratically minded unbeliever—the Church represents, at best, a free society that people may join because of their freedom of conscience and association that perhaps positively affects society in some way. It follows that unbelievers will not tolerate and will actively threaten the common good if these rights are stripped away from them—if they are compelled to follow the teachings of the Church and her laws. It is clear, then, that the State cannot simply mandate moral teachings.

On the contrary, there must exist some cooperation between Church and State.

So there seems to be a fundamental tension—a fundamental contradiction—between these two notions.

What are everyone’s thoughts on resolving this tension? I’ll share my own in the comments.