Login  /  Register  | 3 premium articles left before you must register.
Join | Rewards | Advertise | Mobile

Churches need to stay out of political arena

Carlos Mojica East Lyme

Publication: The Day

Published 11/22/2009 12:00 AM
Updated 11/22/2009 04:38 AM

We all know that religious organizations can lose their tax-free status if they actively promote a particular political position or party. However, many religious leaders appear to struggle balancing spiritual teachings and staying out of ongoing political discussions. Take, for example, the continuing debate on use of public money for abortions as part of the health care bill.
Personal liberties in our country safeguard our right to decide such issues using nothing but our total belief in, let's say, the desires of the Tooth Fairy, if we so choose. But it is another thing to have a particular view mandated from the pulpit of the church of the Tooth Fairy, under the threat of eternal damnation if we don't follow through.
Religious organizations are not good-faith participants in the public discussion of ideas because there cannot be any compromise with the presumed word of God. The law has been handed down millennia ago, and is by definition unchanging.
Mandates from anyone under penalty of eternal suffering are the antithesis of democracy. Heaven is not a democracy. Churches are not on the side of democracy, civil liberties or even civil discourse. Churches need to stay out of politics.
<i>Editor's note: The writer is president of the Atheist Humanist Society of Connecticut and Rhode Island.</i>

Popular on theday.com

Town News

Visit Zip06
what is zip06? | my profile
Submit Your:  Submit Your News Submit Your Photos Submit Your Events
Most Recent Poll

What's the worst Valentine's gift you ever received?

With the Valentine's Day holiday approaching, we wanted to see if any of our readers ever received a Valentine's gift that was memorably bad.

MORE QUERIES

What's the worst Valentine's gift you ever received?

With the Valentine's Day holiday approaching, we wanted to see if any of our readers ever received a Valentine's gift that was memorably bad.

MORE QUERIES
The Day on Facebook

In the past two weeks our Facebook fans have won tickets to the CT Tigers, Newport Winefest and Mystic Seaport. Become a fan of The Day on Facebook for access to these contests, breaking news, TheDay.com's best features and more!

Facebook.com/thedayct