Some of my best friends are good church members. And churches do many good things for the community which I respect. But, there should be a clear separation of church and state. Many people and churches appreciate this because they are more concerned with the state regulating their church than the other way around and realize the danger of blurring the line.
Unfortunately, in this community, many don't see this line clearly. I always ask church activists if they would accord a mosque or Muslim the same rights and privileges they ask for their church and religion. I haven't found one that wanted to do that. So, I ask, why should a person outside their faith want to give those rights and privileges to their religion and church? The only answer, if any, I get is that majority rules. So, I then ask, what if Muslims became the majority and you were the minority? If I am fortunate, I see the light bulb finally go off. Alternatively, I get no response.
Based on this article, this appears to be, at best, a dangerous blurring of the church/state line and a possible abuse of the JSO officer's position. I would hope that any church would be thick skinned enough to take some criticism and set an example for their parishioners in how to be bigger than the next person. Clergy are public figures to many. I am not a Biblical scholar, but I would guess that somewhere in the Bible is a verse that would suggest the right example for handling this problem is other than what transpired.
