Since the time of Alexander the Great, rulers have struggled to deal with the distinct authorities that are guiding the actions of man: Secular and Sacred Authority. Alexander and the Romans after him solved the matter by uniting both authorities in the person of the Emperor. In the modern philosophy of Liberty the law or a democratic majority can't be allowed to trespass on the realm of individual Morality.
The concept of a Right pertains only to action—specifically, to freedom of action. It means freedom from physical compulsion, coercion or interference by other men.
Thus, for every individual, a right is the moral sanction of a positive—of his freedom to act on his own judgment, for his own goals, by his own voluntary, uncoerced choice. (Ayn Rand Lexicon)
Secular versus sacred authority: introduction
Historically the distinction between Secular Authority and Sacred Authority largely followed the separation of Church and State, but the distinct 'authorities' that guide our actions are much more than that. It is very important to know the history that led to this separation, so that we can determine which aspects are controlled by Secular law (and by extension, by democratic principles), what part of our lives is ruled by culture and tradition (here referred to as 'Ethos') and what part is exclusively our private consideration (here referred to as Morality).