6 October 9 - 15, 2008 Valley Journal

OPINION

I am voting for Steve Carter

Pulpit no place for political proselytizing

It appears to be gearing up to be another interesting election. And by interesting, I really mean horrifying. I personally dont have any idea why John McCain picked Palin, though. However, I do enjoy how she says hackey mam. Im not going to mindlessly speculate on the candidates, though. Im certain you have read enough for the rest of your life on each candidate at this point. What I dislike every election season is how various churches circumvent the constitutionality of separation of church and state. As stated, shouldnt each church have their tax-exempt status yanked for endorsing a specific candidate? I find it fascinating how, looking at the general scheme of the world we live in, it is only by the sheerest of coincidence that we believe what we may. In the blink of an eye, one could have been born in Africa, Iran, Japan or India and believe something completely different wholeheartedly. Recently, 33 pastors seemingly defied the IRS by talking about candidates they feel their congregants should vote for. If we can tell you what to do in the bedroom, we can certainly tell you what to do in the voting booth. Or, so goes the logic of a certain southern evangelical minister. These are lapses in logic, really, and one hears them especially when there is talk about trying to prove a certain point. For example, You are supposed to bring the
A Side of Blather

Gospel into every area of life. And, The voting booth is not some sort of sacred cow that you shouldnt talk about. In this regard, By certain pastors are creChristopher ating what they call Mullally Pulpit Freedom Sunday(s) where they feel they should be allowed to tell their congregants for whom to vote. A number of pastors from various churches are challenging the IRS this year, by doing the very same. But these pastors know what they are doing and are phrasing things carefully to avoid endorsing candidates. Many are simply choosing to say whom they would vote for personally, or which candidate they feel adheres to their view of the scriptures more closely. Under the IRS code, places of worship can distribute voter guides, run nonpartisan voter registration drives and hold forums on issues, among other things. However, they cannot endorse a candidate, and their political activity cannot be biased for or against a candidate, directly or indirectly a fairly murky line. Beyond that, religious leaders may freely address political and social issues from the pulpit. But they may not use church resources to endorse or oppose candidates, donate church funds to candidates campaigns, issue pulpit endorsements, or engage in other activities that have the effect of intervening in an election. As you can see, there are still many ways in which a specific candidate may be held as better than another

without having a person go so far as actually endorsing them. I remember when I was younger and in Catholic School, the priest would simply outline the views of each candidate according to matters he felt were spiritually important, and it would be left up to the congregation to decide which fit more into what we were taught. This was usually very straightforward, as 99 percent of the time it had to do with their stance on abortion. Outside of Catholicism, things are not as readily clear-cut, and much is left up to the interpretation of the individual pastors interpretation of the Bible, which, say what you will, is not so easy to interpret. For example, certain churches are openly accepting of homosexuality, whereas others build Hell Houses around Halloween showing the damned in vivid detail; in which homosexuals generally play a large part. Despite the ability to vaguely word things, the people who decided the Pulpit Freedom Sunday is a good thing believe their protest will result in a court challenge to the law. But experts on the law do not find this very likely. According to Professor Tuttle at the George Washington University Law School, People can unsettle law thats settled, but I think that it is very, very unlikely that a lower federal court would reach any other conclusion except that religious organizations have no constitutional right to engage in political speech while accepting deductible contributions. (Christopher Mullally writes monthly for The Valley Journal.)

because he has the best interests of the municipalities at heart, and will bring the county and the Towns much closer.

ROY MCCLUNG MAYOR OF PARACHUTE CO Paid for by the Committee to Elect Steve Carter Commissioner, Ed Weiss, Treasurer

Candidates Forum

Gareld County Commissioner

John Martin Stephen Bershenyi Mike Samson Steve Carter

hear them speak on a wide range of issues that affect our community

(District 3)

(District 2)

Thursday, Oct. 16, 6-9pm

Roaring Fork High School Auditeria 2270 Highway 133, Carbondale
Moderated by Don Chaney of Radio KSNO. Forum will be broadcast live on KDNK 88.1 and T V Channel 12

LETTERS
Houpts thoughts on commish race
Dear Editor: Some thoughts on the current election season. Garfield County is at a crossroads; we can remain content with the status quo, or we can lead policy in a thoughtful and proactive manner. Here are four examples: 1. Energy Development: We are one of the only energy-impacted counties in Colorado that has not adopted comprehensive regulations to incorporate energy development into our planning vision, mitigate impacts and protect public health, safety and welfare.
Co-sponsored by: The Valley Journal, the Carbondale Chamber, Carbondale Community Access Radio KDNK and the Carbondale Conservation Consortium

SEE LETTERS PAGE: 9

Religious Service Directory

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Glenwood Springs
Services the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Sundays, 4 pm at Good Shepherd Church, Glenwood. Childcare provided.
Where people are building a life transforming relationship with Jesus Christ.

Used Car Special of the Week

presented by The Valley Journal

110 Snowmass Drive, behind the Football Field

Saturday 6:30 pm Sunday 9:00 am and 10:15 am

9am includes Sunday School for kids.

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www.uucgs.org

928-8721

963-8773
www.churchatcarbondale.com

Marble Community Church

121 W. State St. Marble

Sedan, 30k, 4 Cylinder Engine, Great Fuel Mileage, AWD, #135006

Service on Sundays at 10 am

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 1630 Grand Ave Glenwood Springs 945-6848

Carbondale Community United Methodist Church

385 S. 2nd St., Carbondale

$14,995
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The Church at Redstone

A community church where everyone is welcome!

Services every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. (Sunday school for grades 1-5 during regular services) Childcare Available Pastor Wally Finley Phone 963-4461

704-1218
Dr. Lafe Murray
Pastor
www.marblecommuntiychurch.org

SUNDAY WORSHIP 10:00 am

Come as you are to worship and serve!

Pastor Bruce Gledhill

Starting September 14th

Sunday Service at 10 AM
www.goodsheplutheran.org

www.churchatredstone.com