THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 24, 1995 TAG: 9505230004
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 33 lines
Religious groups that engage in politics should be aware of Amendment VI in our Constitution which states that ``no religious test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.'' By insisting that candidates conform to their views on public issues, religious groups are engaging in politics and should lose their tax-exempt status.
Our forefathers wisely decided upon a separation of religion and state, not exclusion of personal spiritual principles but the various doctrines and beliefs which proved to be a divisive influence in the body politic. I experienced this in 1979 in Los Angeles when the minister of the church I attended allowed only Reagan supporters to speak from the pulpit several weeks before the election.
There is another and more destructive aspect to a mixing of religion and state - the perception by some believers that their minister or church is God's sole representative. We have had quite enough of groups and individuals ``playing God'' with other people's lives.
If a church wants to engage in politics, let it give up its tax exemption and show its true colors. As the Bible says, man cannot serve two masters. This is particularly applicable to ministers of the gospel.
EUGENE J. DEAN
Virginia Beach, May 16, 1995 by CNB