Politics: Clergy should avoid politics

I would like to remind folks that there is a delicate balance between politics and religion that is played out especially during an election year. When your pastor or priest speaks from the pulpit and tells the flock that one candidate is best because his ideas most closely resemble the beliefs of the church, he is breaking the trust established with the government.

He is being neither patriotic nor moral. And after the service, when all of you gather with your trusted church members and friends in the church hall for coffee, and express your delight with "the" chosen candidate, you also are not being patriotic or moral.

You could find your church's tax exemption challenged in court if it should come to the attention of a city or county official (take notice that it should be their concern) or the ACLU. You can't have it both ways. You can't have the right to assemble peaceably and worship as you wish and even have the privilege of using the public parks for your sunrise services, etc., and still remain tax exempt if your church is the center of political activity.

Why, I can imagine all kinds of wonderful things our cities and counties could do with the money if churches paid taxes on their property like everyone else.

Just maybe you should consider being a decent human being … and maybe consider whether or not you want to do your own thinking and a little research for once to determine who will get your vote.

Ruth Pyren

Oak Harbor

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