Detroit's mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has been amidst scandal regarding mayoral misconduct for the past several months, most recently getting arrested for illegally crossing into Canada.
So, what do I have a problem with here? I have a problem with <a href="http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080810/COL10/808100446/1003/NEWS">this</a> article that is entirely about what his ex-pastor thinks and his thoughts that the mayor should resign.
The entire article speaks about the cities ministers speaking out about the scandal. What this now is blatantly doing is mixing religion and politics. When you state outright as a minister that the mayor should resign, and call other ministers to do so, you've now pushing your rights as a tax-free organization.
But even aside from that, the continued idea that religion is there to fix corrupt society is not only a somewhat offensive notion, it's an inaccurate one. In many scandals (though not the specific one in question), religion itself is implicit in the lead up to it, such as the condemnation of homosexuality and the eventual result of one trying to hide that fact.
"We have an imploding educational system that is rife with corruption, it appears,"
Not helped, by the way, of religious pushing of creationism into schools. While I understand this is referring to the Detroit school system which is less plagued by that movement, the point is that placing religious influence on government action is an explicitly negative influence. Intention regardless, it is forcing of belief on people who do not share it.
It also isn't helpful that the media almost certainly is seeking these kind of stories out. Scandal? Let's interview preachers!
There's a system in place to elect and control the actions of public officials. If they were legally in the wrong, the system is there to take care of it. If the person is only morally wrong as judged by the values of the church, then that is not legitimate cause for removal from office. I don't really care either way, just keep your religion out of it.
Recently Spotted:
*crickets*
On March 24, 2008, Kilpatrick was charged with eight felony counts, including perjury, misconduct in office, and obstruction of justice. If found guilty of felony perjury, Kilpatrick would be disbarred and could be jailed for up to 15 years per count. He would also lose his mayoralty
So it seems he is going to lose his mayoralty anyways. Why are the ministers asking for him to resign?
Journalists are as lazy at work as most of us are and will print whatever story rolls by their desk (so long as it involves conflict, and it helps if it also involves sex, politics or religion -- or better yet all three). Reminds me of a policy of one of the London tabloids which is to always include the words "sex" "money" and "Free" on the front cover and even better if you can put them in the same sentence.
But anyway, in my ideal world religious organizations would lose their tax exempt status. Until they do they are pathetic servants to their governmental overlords. Like Jesus said, "Render unto Caeser what is Caesar's).