Police Directing Church Traffic ~ Right or Wrong?
Posted: Thursday, July 08, 2010
by Sydney Spence
Can I pay officers to direct traffic for me when I go to the grocery store, just like they do when church lets out on Sunday over off Shoreline Drive?? Yes, if I can pay for it. I was actually told this when I personally called the local authorities asking questions about this specific situation.
I cant be the only one in America to believe that the use of law enforcement to direct traffic from a church is wrong and somewhat discriminatory. I personally have had to sit in one of these traffic jams, which gave me plenty of time to think about writing this and what exactly I would say.
I called to find out how it was separation of church and state when our officers are directing traffic for the church, the wealthy ones anyway, and forcing patrons to sit backed up in traffic while waiting for members to exit their parking lot. (I have to add they have 4 different exits at this particular location and one leads directly to the highway with a stop light. This little fact will make more sense in a moment.) Cones are actually set up in the middle of the street preventing anyone not leaving the church parking lot to get caught up in somewhat of a jam.
The reason given for traffic patrol needed in the first place was to maintain the safety of everyone exiting the church parking lot. The reason for this is that if a church has, lets say, only one exit from the church into a somewhat busy street then the amount of traffic leaving their parking lot may warrant traffic help. But if I church has multiple exits, and one leads into a highway with an immediate traffic light, well then there is your traffic help. The point is that it is bordering discrimination because the people who are not attending church are the ones being made to sit backed up all the way down the street.
When asked why other churches werent given the same " services " of traffic patrol? I was told, " Maybe they couldnt afford it. " Is that not being biased?
Rich vs. Poor. Why does that sound so familiar? Maybe because some of our churches arent as separate from the government as some would have us believe.
A Police Officer stated the definition of separation of church and state is to make no difference between religions. (yes, that was a quote from an actual officer)
The actual definition is:
Separation of church and state is a political and legal doctrine that government and religious institutions are to be kept separate and independent from each other . [1] The term most often refers to the combination of two principles: secularity of government and freedom of religious exercise . [2]
BTW ...
Secularity (adjective form secular) is the state of being separate from religion . [
Separation of Church and State " Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof... " *Wikipedia
Acutal Questions asked of law enforcement, and some of the answers I got :
What makes the patrolling of traffic by police officers Separation of Church and State if they are still considered officers even when not on duty?
Because it is off duty officers patrolling or directing traffic and they are paid by the church.
If the officers are off duty during this patrol, can they still give a citation?
Yes because even when they are not on duty they are still cops! (I know, contradicts what I asked above)
Is the street the church is located on property of the church?
No it is not their property.
What law regulates that citizens who are not members of that church be required to sit in a traffic jam, caused by the off duty officers, so that church members can leave the parking lot with no wait?
There isnt one.
How much does this service cost?
That is dependent on the size of the church, the amount of traffic they have, and if there are other more accessible exits from their parking lots.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Well researched, Sydney! I can understand how frustrating it must be for those having to wait.I don't think its so much people having to wait rather than its flat out discriminatory against those that don't attend church. Thanks for the comment!
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