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To the editor:
I am writing this, not as a religionist, but as a citizen speaking out — citizen who has religion and who appreciates the freedom of religion guaranteed in the Virginia and U.S. Constitutions.
It’s been over a year now since a large group of county residents challenged the Planning Commission about its zoning plan that would regulate “church” property and require special use permits for expansion of facilities and for new building. Since then, the Planning Commissioners offered a number of local ministers a “sweetheart deal” that would free their churches from the onerous restrictions, but would put them in effect for any new religious groups or denominations coming into the area.
It seems to me, however, that this would clearly be a violation of the provision of the Virginia Constitution that prohibits the conferring of “any peculiar privileges or advantages on any sect or denomination.”
My concern, though, is not so much that our local officials would attempt this kind of compromise, but that those ministers — representatives of Jesus — would accede to such a move.
While traditionally they wheedle about doctrine and persecute their fellow religionists, Christian apos
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