Keep the Wall Separating Church, County

I understand the temptation. Church leaders in South County look around, see religion and politics mingling every which way in American life, and they ask themselves, why not? Why shouldn’t we take a stand on the El Toro airport debate?

That the question is even on the table shows how contemporary church life has metamorphosed in America. When I was growing up in the Baptist Church in the ‘50s and ‘60s, social involvement meant an ice cream social on the church lawn. The biggest debate among church elders was over who would play shortstop on the softball team. At the national level, Billy Graham and Oral Roberts preached the Bible, not the Constitution. They offered salvation, not amendments.

If any clerics dared talk politics openly, they tended to come from the liberal end of the spectrum and used their moral authority to push for civil rights or the end to the Vietnam War. By the late 1970s, however, conservative religious forces increasingly felt that hostile political and societal forces were squeezing them. They began squeezing back. Issues such as legalized abortion, prayer in public schools and banned Nativity scenes stirred their hearts and minds.

Jerry Falwell founded the Moral Majority in 1979--just in time for the Ronald Reagan presidency--and religion and politics in America have seemed inseparable ever since. To underscore the point, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and televangelist Pat Robertson ran for president in the 1980s and ‘90s.

In Orange County, the blending of religion and politics is even more pronounced and acceptable, with many financial backers of conservative Republican candidates and their causes acknowledging their faith-based politics.

In short, we’re accustomed around here to religious folks talking politics. The irony is that these latter-day conservatives are paying little homage to Edmund Burke, the 18th century British statesman considered a forerunner of political conservatism.

“Politics and the pulpit are terms that have little agreement,” Burke wrote. “No sound ought to be heard in the church but the healing voice of Christian charity.”

Even if local church leaders don’t want to quote Burke verbatim, his admonition frames the debate for any of them contemplating a dive into the El Toro debate.

And as reported last week, several churches are considering just that.

A number of Laguna Hills churches along “church row” are lined up uncomfortably close to the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. The congregations have long put up with Marine base jets, but members are worried about the noise from increased jet traffic if the base is converted to an international airport.

Presumably, none of the church leaders will cite biblical imperatives for opposing an airport. Their arguments thus far center on the potential for noisy distractions to churchgoers.

One is tempted to say that churches over the years have withstood more and survived.

But don’t you just know that the anti-airport faction would love to have the assorted flocks in their camp as they gird for battle. I can see the mailer now: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Or, “Praise the Lord and pass the Millennium Plan!”

Yes, a united church front would bolster the anti-airport side.

Here’s one unchurched voice hoping it doesn’t happen.

It’s one thing to invoke Scripture about helping the homeless or feeding the hungry. As Yogi Berra would say, “You can look it up.”

It’s quite another to turn the church’s attention to airport issues. Yes, churches are part of the secular world, and church leaders might well ask why they should sit idly while politicians make decisions that affect them.

The El Toro airport issue goes a bit beyond arguing for an easement or an expanded parking lot. This is a fierce war that, so far, hasn’t shown much willingness on either side to take prisoners. It is not a fight particularly characterized thus far by charity.

Over the years, I’ve heard the occasional story about local churches (including some in glass houses) throwing their civic weight around in rather unpleasant ways. Those stories always distress me, because you’d like to think a church conducts itself better than the rest of us do. It’s just that politics seem to bring out the worst in people.

I can’t imagine a church wanting to wade into the El Toro fight. In Laguna Hills, most congregationalists already oppose the new airport proposal. If they want to join the fight, they can do it as individuals, every Monday through Saturday.

On Sunday, why not give it a rest?

Dana Parsons’ column appears Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Readers may reach Parsons by calling (714) 966-7821, by writing to him at The Times Orange County Edition, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626, or by e-mail at dana.parsons@latimes.com.