Rabbi Rebecca Gould |
This would appear to fly in the face of the doctrine that separates church and state, a doctrine Maplewood has followed very strictly.
Pastor Durwin Johnson |
Those were Rabbi Rebecca Gould of Congregation Beth El; Pastor Durwin F. Johnson of First Baptist Church of Vaux Hall; and Rev. Rick Boyer of Prospect Presbyterian Church.
Admittedly having these leaders speak at the celebratory first meeting of the year is not the same as holding religious services during such meetings or forcing faith-based activities on the public. But it is still an awkward situation for at least some of us.
While many of us are religious folks ourselves (Maplewoodian.com Editor Joe Strupp is an ordained minister as many know), the appearance of endorsed religious displays during a government meeting is at least questionable.
Especially in Maplewood where a famous and controversial court ruling has barred religious songs from all school-related holiday concerts.
This Township Committee has a long record of positive and accepting practices that have never sought to impose religous views on anything. The TC's support for gay rights and other progressive issues clearly flies in the face of many religious views.
But even this small display of such mixing of religion and government practice should be reconsidered for such future events.
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