"Things are coming to a pretty pass when religion is allowed to invade private life"

This quote by Lord Melbourne is a commentary on the intrusion of religious beliefs into the personal lives of people. He is revealing his displeasure of the idea that religions should be imposed on people in their individual lives. He believes that religion needs to be kept different from the private lives of people, and that it should not be enabled to interfere with their choices or beliefs. He is suggesting that permitting religion to invade private life is an unsafe precedent, and that it must not be tolerated.

Lord Melbourne's quote is a pointer that religion need to not be utilized as a tool to manage or manipulate individuals. It should be respected and accepted, but it needs to not be used to dictate how individuals ought to live their lives. Everybody should be totally free to make their own choices and beliefs without fear of judgement or interference from religious authorities. Religion needs to give convenience and assistance, not a source of control and injustice.