Reverend Newman,
I was just reading an article on your attempt at 15 minutes of fame. Let me start by giving you a little context, on the outside chance you haven't heard of me. I was raised a catholic and am still practicing to the best of my ability. I continue to believe in God and Jesus, and take my family to church almost every Sunday. I'm a fiscal conservative, but a social liberal. I'm against the death penalty, only for abortion in the most necessary of cases, couldn't care less about gay marriage.
Based on what you've come to know of me in the last 54 seconds, I'm sure you're tensing up, wondering how hard I'm going to come out against your preaching politics from the pulpit. Rest at ease, the fact of the matter is I'm a liberal and, as a result, gladly accept your ability to express your views. While I don't necessarily agree with your stance, this is America after all.
I think this all started about a month before the election, when my pastor stood up during the homily and pointed out that we should not vote for anyone who was pro-choice. Frankly, it got my dander up a bit - how dare he talk politics from the alter? Two weeks before the election he spoke of a letter he had received from the archdiocese comparing the two candidates on 15 issues that were essential to the election. He mentioned during that homily that, although he felt all 15 may be important, he only wanted to focus on two. I'm guessing you know which two they were, but for the sake of those reading along I'll point out that they were gay marriage and abortion. I think the people sitting behind me were a little concerned at the wringing of my hands and my shifting in my seat while he spoke but, as a good Christian (and a good liberal) I sat and listened - i even stayed after communion.
It was only that night at home, when i meditated in prayer on the situation that what i believe to be the clear answer came to me. There is nothing wrong with preaching politics from the alter, or whatever other religious platform from which one speaks. There are of course, a couple of stipulations:
- I hope the forum will grow to a wider variety of atrocious issues. Next up I'm hoping for a couple of sermons on defrocking and prosecuting priests who have molested minors.
- Scorning of anyone who's divorced. If we're complaining about things that are threatening the sanctity of marriage, that's gotta be number one with a bullet.
- The understanding that the freedom of speech which we all enjoy (yes, even you) comes with expenses - specifically troops fighting here and abroad to protect us and tax dollars to fund the government that provides the framework for these liberties. Now I'm pretty sure that you're behind the troops, but you're going to need to step up to the plate on funding your part of the bill. Property taxes and income taxes should be forthcoming.
- Finally, I hope you understand what I'll refer to as the "Dixie Chicks Principle" at lack of a better term. We all need to realize if we're in business, what we say will affect our revenue. I'm sure you can draw that conclusion without my help.
Sincerely
hoping you read the parts of the bible which focus on tolerance and forgiveness.
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