LETTERS.

When Did He Say That?

Thank you for the back-page quotations by famous historical figures on the subject of church-state separation. I have found them to be very useful in debating the idea that the United States is a "Christian" country. I'd like to suggest that they include background information. Are they from a letter, to whom, what year, etc.? This would be very helpful in replying to, "Oh yeah, when did he say or write that?" I really enjoy and look forward to receiving Church & State -- it's GREAT!

--Irving B. Kasow Lake Elsinore, Calif.

Editor's Note: For all those who have asked, James Madison's comment about church-state separation that has appeared on the back of recent issues comes from a letter he wrote to Robert Walsh on March 2, 1819.

Wildmon's AFA: A Family Affair

It's laudable that Church & State took aim at another Religious Right demagogue ("In Don We Trust," May). The Rev. Donald Wildmon has been caught again in another one of his numerous schemes to fund his cottage industry, American Family Association in Tupelo, Miss. In the recent past, these funds provided for a new building that houses his operations and conveniently employs several family members.

Of course we all know that the real King of Tupelo is actually Elvis Presley, who was born there in 1935.

--Albert Santerre Salem, N.H.

Don't Turn Taxes Into Tithes 

Back in Ireland in 1833, my great-great-grandfather, a Roman Catholic, was legally compelled to pay a tithe of three shillings for the support of the local Church of Ireland (Episcopal) parish. At that time, he was subsisting his family of six on the potato harvest from a bit more than an acre of poor quality County Limerick soil. In context, that three shillings was an enormous sum; and although my ancestor ultimately starved to death in the Great Irish Famine of 1845-47, it can safely be presumed that the Church of Ireland pastor managed to survive.

Now, my great-great-grandfather did not starve in Ireland, nor did his son immigrate to the United States on a cattle boat, so that I could watch any part of my federal tax payment morph into a tithe for James Dobson, Pat Robertson or Sun Myung Moon.

And my voucher-avid fellow Catholics would do well to reflect on their own family histories, and to remember that charity is a virtue, and not a line in some future federal budget.

Good men died to give us the option of writing our own checks.

--John Jordan Moore Bloomington, Ill.

Faith-Based Programs: Don't Overlook Constitutional Concerns

When George W. Bush announced his initiative to give federal funding to "faith-based" programs, I quickly decided our recently appointed president was not a student of the Constitution. Indeed, there are constitutional scholars claiming the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives is itself inconsistent with the Constitution.

As more and more of the religious community speak out against the president's proposal, it is interesting to note the concerns expressed. Many do not speak to the constitutional issues but seem instead focused on the potential for government intrusion into church affairs -- reporting requirements, accountability, constraints on ritual observance and hiring practices, etc.

It would appear that along with our president, some of the clergy are remarkably either unconcerned with the constitutional issues or blithely ignorant of constitutional law. I would have hoped that religious leaders would acknowledge that the president's faith-based folly demands concerns that go well beyond additional reporting requirements levied on church administrators.

I would hope enlightened clergy would look beyond the impact federal dollars may have on their own congregations and give some thought to how church-state separation has allowed religion to prosper in this country. I cannot place too much emphasis on the dangers of attempting to categorize what is an "acceptable" religion and the doling out of federal largesse to those so blessed. While religions may be intolerant of one another, the discourse between religions is mostly tolerant. This will change once pecuniary interests take center stage.

--Roger G. Goldberg, President Northwest Florida Chapter, Americans United Pensacola, Fla.

Charities Need Volunteers, Not Funds

As a full-time community volunteer (Methodist church programs, public school programs and other community programs), I see a problem with faith-based programs receiving government funds that has not been widely discussed: Money is not the major need of charitable programs; time and people are in short supply.

Many volunteers are already at the point of burn-out, and we are not interested in being paid for what we do. Having to figure out government forms could be the final straw for a lot of us.

--Carolyn C. Peterson Houghton, Mich.

Church & State welcomes letters to the editor. Although not all correspondence can be published, readers' opinions are appreciated. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit all letters for brevity and clarity.