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
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