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I think the opinion column in the Aug. 9-10 BDN by Pastor Jon Avery is so skewed and off base as to have been near not worth reading.

Separation of church and state is not for the benefit of the church. It’s to protect all citizens from the biases and leanings of a church, to protect the general public and our government from religious commands and preserve religious freedom. The pastor’s stance is not grounded in American history and is a misrepresentative of our foundation. Try glancing at Federalist 52 , and Thomas Jefferson’s 1802 letter on the separation of church and state.

It seems the pastor has confused church rights to speak morally with church de

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