"Believers are not inclined to leave their faith at home, or in the sacristy, nor to agree to the secularist assertion that the public square must be purified of religious input," Collins said. "People of faith who, if nothing else, make up a large portion of the population in our democracy, will continue to propose their insights in the political process, and to act through the voluntary organizations without which our society would be a crueler place."

Collins stressed that both secular non-religious voices and people of faith need to learn to conduct civilized conversation aimed at concrete results without sacrificing their passionate views.

Faith and Secularism in the Public Square [Cardinal Collins full speech]

"Listen first, and understand clearly what the other person is actually saying, and if possible try to grasp the context which illuminates it," he said. "Avoid vague or inflammatory language."

The talk was an excellent opportunity for people to re-examine how they engage in public life as faithful Christians, said Catholic teacher Chris Karuhanga.

"We have to be continuously conscious of social justice issues," Karuhanga said. "(The social teaching of the Church) is a tradition we must be aware of at all times."

Collins' address was particularly timely coming the day after a cost-cutting provincial budget and continuing challenges for the poor and the unemployed, said Karuhanga.

"In times like these the marginalized tend to be even more marginalized," he said.

The secular and faith aren't separate realities was the main message associate director of the Toronto Catholic District School Board took from the speech.

"You cannot separate the two. They are intimately linked," she said. "You cannot have one without the other. You cannot have society without faith."

The speech will be broadcast on Rogers Cable 10 at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, March 29. It is available as a podcast from the Canadian Club at www.canadianclub.org/events.

Read the text of Cardinal Collins' full speech here.