Just clarifying, you said the State exists to benefit society as if that is a fact, I'm only placing it in its liberal context.

You never noticed Christ attempting to influence the Roman senate for a very good reason - He was too busy healing the sick and spreading the Word.

The Church is at its best when it is helping the people in the street, ministering to the poor and down-trodden. It is at its worst when it attempts to "influence the State" and affect change from the top down. When this happens, the reverse happens - the corruption of the State infects the Church.

It's just as true in North America as it is in Moscow.

Ooh . . . A real republic-an. Repeal the 17th, and you've got my vote (ok, I really want more than repeal; I want prohibition on seating a senator chosen through popular election, or even after holding a referendum on who the legislature should appoint. I also want the appointment from a house of the state legislature which has a taxation requirement for voting.)