I write in response to the June 12 letter from Rio Arriba County Commissioner James Martinez, who states he will “keep on praying.” He states that “I am a Christian first and foremost and my faith in Jesus Christ guides my decisions in all that I do.”
The commissioner is allowed his beliefs but he is not allowed to use his official position to proselytize. The fact that Martinez is both a pastor at a church and is also an elected commissioner giving the opening prayer at commission meetings is extremely problematic.
A person who, in his capacity as an elected official, lends the power and prestige of his office to a religion, borders on governmental endorsement of that religion, and, as such, could be constitutionally suspect.
As President John Kennedy said in his Sept. 12, 1960 speech, “I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute.”
The business of the County commission is to address the desires and conditions that the citizens bring before it, and that means all citizens regardless of whether they pray or do not pray to any deity.
If the County wishes to continue with the practice of having an opening prayer before its meetings, I would suggest that the County invite members of any religious or secular organization to give the opening prayer/invocation rather Commissioner Martinez.
The fact that he is a commissioner and a pastor taints the whole process and gives the impression of the desire for a theocracy.
Gilbert Padilla
Española