Pence the pretender

To the editor: 

It is clear that former Vice President Mike Pence doesn’t believe in the separation of church and state, as is required by the first clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution.

There is no reference to God in the Constitution except in the reference to the date, “in the year of Our Lord.” Many Americans, especially scholars and creative artists believe that Pence and many evangelicals in Congress and even the Supreme Court distort the true Christian doctrines to fit their political positions, to justify their greed, and to excuse their racism, xenophobia, misogynistic positions, as well as their utter lack of compassion for the poor. 

When asked recently about Trump’s statement, “Maybe they’re right” when the January 6th insurrectionists yelled, “Hang Mike Pence,” Pence said he didn’t know what was happening in the White House. The vice president said he spoke to Trump days later, and said he sensed the president was deeply remorseful and was saddened by what happened. Pence said his Christian values require him to forgive, and he forgives Trump, whom he said condemned the actions of the rioters. 

What Pence doesn’t acknowledge is that one should not forgive someone who is still committing or defending the wrongful conduct, the very conduct that Pence was in a position to speak out against with authority.

Mike Pence has proved he is a hypocrite, a coward and one who values his political future more than anything else.

Michael J. Gorman