Attaching church title, church name to personal views is wrong

I wish to respond to the letter by the Rev. Charles Hoffacker, rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Parish, published in the Feb. 3 edition (“Tyranny respects no one,” Maryland Independent).

Rev. Hoffacker writes about the millions of citizens rising up against the injustice of Donald Trump — not President Trump, just Donald Trump. Rev. Hoffacker writes about diverse organizations and networks speaking out about how their constituencies and interests are threatened by the extremism of a president most voters voted against.

Rev. Hoffacker seems to be an educated person, so a lesson about how the American electoral system put President Trump in office does not appear to be necessary. What does appear to be necessary is some advice for Rev. Hoffack- er. I am sure not all members of St. Paul’s parish agree with his political views, so he has conflicted himself with those who do not and is encouraging those who do to disrespect the elected president by his vitriolic utterances. He has further insured that those prospec- tive churchgoers who disagree with his views will never darken the door of St. Paul’s.

Rev. Hoffacker would do well to heed the words of Jesus, who said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” Rev. Hoffacker expressed his personal views about President Trump’s application of a law passed by the U.S. Congress. He used his official church title and his church’s name in an attempt to add credibility to his personal views. President Trump’s application of a law may be the subject for disagreement among reasonable people, but it hardly rises to the level where the citing of Hitler’s atrocities is justified.

Rev. Hoffacker has failed in his primary mission: that being leading a diverse group of Christians to do God’s work. Rev. Hoffacker has probably joined a growing list of movie stars, singers, business people and others who depend on support from all citizens, who have cost themselves dearly by unnecessarily offending half of their prospective customers and in his own case, church members.

I am not a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Parish, so I do not know for sure how the parish’s internal affairs work. I do know that if my pastor attached his official church title and my church’s name to such an unjustified hit piece on the president of the United States, there would be a serious discussion by the congregation about his future employment.