Church And State

ATLANTA -- By the time of his death last week, the Rev. Jerry Falwell had become a caricature, a victim of his egomania and verbal excesses. The organization he founded in 1979, the Moral Majority, had long since disbanded, and his name had become associated with right-wing dogma. He will be remembered as much for his ridiculous pronouncements - such as blaming gays and feminists, among others, for the 9/11 attacks - as for anything else. Nevertheless, his influence on American politics has, sadly, been profound.

The best thing for Baltimore would be Kweisi as mayor. The worst would be special-interest legislation to bring that about.Scientists share information. Weapons makers don't. Know which you are.The wall of separation between church and state has gates open wide in Maryland.Soon the electric power market will be as deregulated and confusing here as the telephones. What an improvement.Pub Date: 3/17/99

While they normally rely on the collection plate to pay for their community outreach efforts, Maryland churches are increasingly turning to state taxpayers for help instead.Since 1993, 19 religious-affiliated groups have successfully lobbied for $7.5 million in state assistance for building projects, blurring the line that usually separates church and state.Baptist, Roman Catholic and African Methodist Episcopal groups all received state awards last year. The Islamic Society of Baltimore Inc. was granted $200,000 for its community center in Woodlawn, and the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington won $600,000.

SPRINGFIELD, Va. -- The phenomenon of school shootings stems predictably from the moral vacuum wrought by the American Civil Liberties Union and other anti-religionists of the Madalyn Murray O'Hair variety. What did they expect to happen when they pushed America down the slippery slope of eradicating Judeo-Christian expression from the public square?The Founding Fathers established a government that embraced liberty and law. At the center stood individual self-control. And clearly, the Founders understood that religion and the moral education of the Bible would be necessary to cultivate that self-control.

NOT EVERY relationship between a church and a government violates the Constitution. Government and faith institutions can join forces to deal with common concerns.It is when government goes too far that Thomas Jefferson's wall of separation comes into play.Where to draw the line, or erect the wall, was the question recently for the Anne Arundel County Council when it decided whether to cut funds for a church day-care center in Lothian.County Executive Janet S. Owens asked the council to approve an application by the Mount Zion United Methodist Church of Lothian for a $26,500 grant to furnish a proposed day-care center.

Worried they would run afoul of the U.S. Constitution, Anne Arundel County leaders deleted funding last night for a day-care center run by a south county church.Citing the requirement to keep church and state separate, the County Council voted 5-1 to delete $26,500 from a community grant bill -- money that would have provided furniture for Mount Zion United Methodist Church's proposed child care center in Lothian."Our concern isn't their excellent intentions," said Councilman Clifford R. Roop, a Broadneck Republican.

First Baptist Church of Guilford has scaled back its proposal for expanding the church complex in the 7400 block of Oakland Mills Road.Robert H. Levan, a lawyer for the church, said yesterday that the church's board of trustees voted recently not to accept a $300,000 state matching grant to build a community center, and to reduce the number of seats in the proposed new sanctuary and the number of parking spaces.The General Assembly approved the community center grant -- which requires the church to match the money -- in this year's session after a debate during which some lawmakers and residents argued that using government funds to support or build a center on the property of a religious institution violated the separation of church and state.

CALL IT divine intervention, if you wish. For whatever reason, the Maryland General Assembly put aside questions about the separation of church and state and approved $300,000 for a community center that First Baptist Church of Guilford plans to build.Some Howard County delegates expressed reservations last year when the center was proposed. But most opposition dissipated before the request for state money reached a final, successful vote Monday in Annapolis.Several factors made the community center proposal viable.

Assembly clergy praying in name of Jesus divisiveYour Feb. 14 article "House prayer service sparks ill will," about an overtly Christian prayer being delivered in the state legislature, underscores the divisiveness that comes from the fusion of church and state in any aspect of our lives.As was pointed out, the prayerful references to Jesus Christ offends the Jewish and other non-Christian members of the legislature.One devoutly religious legislator even feels compelled to remain in the lounge until the ceremony is over.

THE POORLY named "Religious Freedom Amendment" was recently voted down by the House of Representatives.This proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution, sponsored by Rep. Ernest Jim Istook Jr., an Oklahoma Republican, would have undermined one of the founding principles of this nation, the separation of church and state.The measure -- which attracted surprising support and is certain to be resurrected -- says "the people's right to pray and to recognize their religious beliefs, heritage or traditions on public property, including schools, shall not be infringed."

An Ellicott City church's request for county government help in reducing borrowing costs on up to $10.1 million for school buildings is raising questions about the separation of church and state. The issue, in the form of a County Council resolution approving economic development revenue bonds, will be discussed at Monday night's public hearing, and is scheduled for a vote July 30. "We want to serve the community," said Glen Mar United Methodist Church's pastor, Andy Lunt, about the facilities under construction on the church's new 22-acre campus on Route 103 at New Cut Road.

Bishops cross the line with political intrusion Regarding the article "Bishops pledge to press Obama on abortion stance" (Nov. 12), the Catholic bishops lost their moral credibility years ago because of their criminal deceit and cover-up of the Catholic clergy sex scandal. Their behavior enabled sexual perverts within the clergy to prey upon innocent young children. During the presidential campaign, Catholic bishops contributed to spreading a divisive atmosphere in our nation around the candidacy of Sens.

Turn transit options into practical realities As ridership has increased on Maryland's MARC commuter trains, the state has wisely decided to purchase additional rail cars to allow more passengers to ride ("New cars may ease MARC crowding," Aug. 20). However, as gas prices remain high and congestion gets worse on our streets and highways, it will take more than 13 new rail cars to accommodate the public demand for better transportation options. That's why we must revaluate the way we fund transportation in the United States.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney will address the nation today about his Mormon faith and how it relates to his candidacy and policy goals. Many are calling it his "JFK moment." In September 1960, John F. Kennedy traveled to Houston to speak to conservative Protestant clergy about the relationship between his Catholicism and his politics. In that speech, Mr. Kennedy declared: "I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute," and, "I believe in a president whose views on religion are his own private affair."

Head and Heart: American Christianities By Garry Wills The Penguin Press / 552 pages/ $25.95 Religion in America, according to Garry Wills, has oscillated between "two tendencies, two temperaments." In the 18th century, Enlightenment religious culture embraced reason, benevolence, tolerance and pluralism. Its core value, the separation of church and state, was enshrined in the United States Constitution. Enlightenment religion was a radical departure from Evangelicalism, which emphasizes faith, biblical truth, and an experiential relationship to Christ.

A Severn church and a Pasadena-based group will host this weekend the former Alabama Supreme Court chief justice who rose to national prominence when he refused remove a Ten Commandments monument from courthouse grounds. As part of a "God and Country" pastors' conference calling for the United States to put God back into the government, Roy S. Moore will be on hand for an area dedication of a replica of the now-famous statue. "We believe he's truly an American hero - a patriot willing to forfeit his own job for religious convictions and the believing that the state has a right to acknowledge God," said the Rev. David Frye of the Severn Christian Church.

ATLANTA -- By the time of his death last week, the Rev. Jerry Falwell had become a caricature, a victim of his egomania and verbal excesses. The organization he founded in 1979, the Moral Majority, had long since disbanded, and his name had become associated with right-wing dogma. He will be remembered as much for his ridiculous pronouncements - such as blaming gays and feminists, among others, for the 9/11 attacks - as for anything else. Nevertheless, his influence on American politics has, sadly, been profound.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State has asked the Internal Revenue Service to investigate four churches - including two in Maryland - for recent political activities. "We believe that partisan politicking has no place in the pulpits," said Robert Boston, assistant director of communications for the Washington-based organization. Groups, including churches, that have tax-exempt status are prohibited by federal law from making political endorsements or working on behalf of any candidate or campaign.

When I read or hear a story about the separation of church and state, it's hard for me to relate. When I was growing up in the inner city on Baltimore's west side, I saw firsthand the challenges that urban kids face: poverty, violence, promiscuity, chemical addictions and family disintegration. The government has spent trillions of dollars trying to reverse this spiral of social disintegration, yet the problems grow worse each day. The separation of church and state is a suburban, not an urban, issue.

West Baltimore's Bethel AME Church showered Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and his wife with ovations - and donations - yesterday as both gubernatorial contenders brought their campaigns to religious communities. Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley received hearty applause at a candidates forum at a Montgomery County synagogue, where he tied Ehrlich's policies to President Bush and urged the state to move away from the "politics of division and fear." O'Malley is scheduled to appear at Bethel AME Church on Sunday, but yesterday the church was reserved for his Republican opponent, who has sought for years to make inroads among black voters who are traditionally Democrats.