Web Letters: Rick Warren's Clout

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By Jon Wiener

This article appeared in the February 2, 2009 edition of The Nation.

January 15, 2009

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  • I am sure the Rev. Warren is in favor of a lot of things and opposed to many others--just like everyone else. I question the heavy-handedness in describing him as an "opponent of gay marriage" in the introductory sentence. I am sure he opposes a lot of other things which a lot of Nation readers favor. Speaking objectively, would Mr Weiner describe the Rev. Warren as an "opponent of torture," an "opponent of a progressive income tax," an opponent of an early withdrawal from Iraq" or an "opponent of littering in public places"? Besides, I would be much more concerned with Mr. Geithner's taxes than with the Reverend's.

    John Molina

    Chula Vista, CA

    01/20/2009 @ 3:24pm


  • Rick Warren is the most powerful clown in the so-called Christian circus. He won by constitutional law, but he lost by Christian principle. Jesus Christ paid his taxes specifically to avoid any entanglement with the government, as he carefully explained to Peter. If Rick Warren were a disciple of Christ, he would follow the example of Jesus. When churches fail to pay taxes, they are ipso facto subsidized by the government. The government has never attacked a subsidized church, as they did the Waco assembly. In order to receive the number of the beast (IRS exempt status) the church must comply with government standards, not the laws of Christ.

    Dennis St. John

    Big Timber, MT

    01/19/2009 @ 6:32pm


  • Preachers and other clergy aren't the only folks who get the so-called parsonage execption. People who have a housing benefit with their job--such as dorm directors, house parents, some soldiers, don't pay tax on their housing.

    Bob Smietana

    Nashville, TN

    01/17/2009 @ 2:26pm


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