PASTORS: Clarify 'fuzzy' assertions

I would like to attempt to respond to several recent letters all pertaining to basically the same subject regarding pastors, information, and 501(c)(3).

First to Elizabeth Rose, of “My Turn” fame: If you want to portray yourself as an authority on a subject it might be helpful to actually know what you’re talking about. Without going further than your four main points, the fact is that all salaries paid to clergy are taxable, and also church employees. Each must file both state and federal returns and pay their due amount. Since you seem to be so down on churches and their tax free 501(c)(3) status, why not mention others like “Planned Parenthood” who receives hundreds of millions of federal tax free dollars each year while planning the un-parenting of vulnerable young pregnant women, with fifty-five million babies destroyed to date for convenience sake and counting. To use your own words, “Is there anything vague or fuzzy about that?”

Point two: Because I go to church does not exempt me or any other member from bringing in information he or she has compiled on anyone, and leaving it to be picked up and read by anyone who cares to do so. Because I step inside a building with a cross on the top I do not automatically give up my rights to free speech as a citizen of this country.

Now to Ed Morse: Your loss in the election and threats to notify the IRS clearly exposes your whiny, poor loser attitude. It is obvious that many people figured you out ahead of time, and that’s why you lost.

And finally to Bill Johnson of Rathdrum: You try very hard to portray yourself as a “real Christian,” but at the same time you do much disservice to the Christian community, contrary to God’s laws, in general with your “Holier than thou attitude.” Stating that preachers should shut up and have no opinion on politics flies in the face of what God says. God’s laws trump the governments, always, period. When did Jesus appoint you “booking agent and press secretary” to speak for him? My suggestion to you would be to refrain from your disservice of continual ranting and disparaging of the local preachers and get into His word. You will be amazed what can be learned.

C.R. BECKER

Coeur d’Alene