During the campaign of 1960, I questioned clergymen as to why they were not endorsing John Kennedy. During the civil rights campaign, I asked why they were not supporting Rev. Martin Luther King’s movement.

In both cases, I was told the churches could not get involved in “matters of state” due to their tax-free status under separation of church and state.

In the recent campaign, clergymen proselytized from the pulpit (even during a funeral service); supplied campaigns with membership-mailing lists; and publicly testified against contraception, abortion rights and partnership-marriage rights for nontraditional, loving couples.

A recent newscast showed Michael Heath threatening the governor of the state of Maine.

In this time of limited financial resources, we should consider eliminating the tax-free status of churches.

Timothy K. Priestly, Auburn