Does Gingrich understand what he said when he said that America

[Brother Buzz]

35. Get your pilgrims straight

The Separatists (Plymouth colony) was an inclusive sect and only a portion resided in Leiden, Holland, before sailing to America (the Leiden contingency had no problems with the Dutch government and vice-verse). Non-believers (Strangers) had an equal standing in the community, could own land, vote, hold office, and could worship as they chose, although there was only one official, sanctioned church. Oh, and their first legal document was the Mayflower Compact, signed thirty years before the Quakers arrived.

The Puritans (Massachusetts Bay colony) persecuted the Quakers as well as the Separatists.