Politics & Government

Letter to the Editor: John Taylor

Summerville resident John Taylor talks church and state.

In 2008 members of Cathedral of Praise stopped their attendance when the pastor deliberately during his service encouraged the congregation to vote for a particular Sheriff’s candidate running for Dorchester County. A candidate who was supported by the previous Sheriff’s administration (1997-2008) which was plagued with budgetary issues and scandalous affairs, i.e.; Jail Administrator being arrested and sentenced to prison for embezzlement. The same administration that currently supports and backs today’s candidate, a leading administrator during that previous administration (1997-2008), in attempts to regain control of the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office from the current administration. The current administration who along with other state and local law enforcement agencies have brought violent crime in our state down by 11% according to the FBI’s annual crime report for South Carolina. Regardless, it is astonishing to hear that a pastor would preach about politics in attempt to sway their congregations vote towards one candidate over another.  You couldn’t help but wonder is God’s word important or simply a tactic used by Cathedral to gain political favor through its congregation?                

Once again, another election year, Cathedral, allowed handpicked political candidates to stand before their congregation during service and speak. Then, when members walked out because of what they believed to be right and the political display to be wrong, a member of Cathedral writes a letter to the Charleston City Paper criticizing these individuals in attempt to justify the churches action. This member writes that these people walked out of the service because of major myths, specifically regarding the topic of separation from church and state. The member points out that Thomas Jefferson opened executive branch buildings for church services and that Patrick Henry gave his famous speech, “Give me liberty or give me death” at a Richmond, Va., Church. The question is this, were any of these events conducted during church services? Not mentioned in the article, a point which this member fails to address in their attempts to justify Cathedrals actions. What does using a government building for church services or conducting governmental business in a church have to do with a separation of church and state? This member simply insulted our intelligence with his article to the Charleston City Paper.                  

What is not understood is why any religious organization would totally and blatantly disregard our country’s laws, risking their tax exempt status for political purpose. We certainly should wonder what kind of political candidate would disregard and ignore our countries laws in attempts to gain political favor through American Christians, not to mention risking any churches tax exempt status in accordance to federal law. Is political position so powerful that churches feel the need to place Gods word second and their political interest first?  Does no one feel that the church should stick to preaching Gods word, supporting their community and saving souls by offering wisdom, guidance and prayer to those who need it- even political figures?   

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Is this wrong or right-do our ethics and morals by which we were raised no longer exist? Now another church, Faith Assembly, has joined Cathedral in their political ambition, displaying a political banner, recently removed, on their children’s ball field, unbelievable.                 

Maybe researching any political candidate one may be favoring during this year’s election is the smart avenue to take. In other words ladies and gentlemen, do your homework folks!!! 

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To submit a letter to the editor, email lindsay.street@patch.com.


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