Letter: Keep church and state separate

Published 12:01 am Wednesday, November 29, 2017

I read with interest the recent editorial on ethics and politics, and when is it legal to campaign for someone vs. whether it is ethical to campaign for a particular person.

I would like to hear your opinion on the ethics of an ordained minister or pastor running for a public office. I have always been taught that a pastor should not stand in the pulpit and “preach” to his congregation about politics, or who or what they should vote for in any election. This is what we all know as the separation of church and state. Why would it be ethical for any minister or pastor to run for a public office? If a pastor is truly doing his or her job of tending the flock, then I question whether time would be available to properly fulfill the duties of elected office.

Having known quite a few ministers in my life, I can honestly say that many were terrible when it came to operating within a budget. All they had to do was go to the elders or deacons of the church and tell them they needed more money, or preach a moving sermon on the shortages they were facing and usually it would miraculously appear. Quite a few were obviously of the impression that money grows on trees.

Because of the separation of church and state, churches pay no taxes. In these times of rising taxes and costs in general, do we honestly want a minister telling us how our tax dollars should be spent ? Do we want a minister telling us that we need more money to spend on new schools or parks, therefore, property taxes must increase to cover needs?

I am not saying that we don’t need godly or God-fearing men in office, but I think the pastors and ministers should leave that job to business people. They should do their job to support these businessmen and businesswomen by praying that they make the right decisions for our community.

Government is big business. We need men and women who are willing to make the difficult business decisions to invest our tax dollars wisely and cut spending where needed. We cannot continue to raise property taxes on an annual basis because no one is willing to cut spending.

Wayne McDaniel

Dalton