Keep religion out of our government

The Times reported that Melinda and Bill Gates are doing good things which I used to think religions were supposed to do [“Gates birth-control plan could fire up its critics,” page one, July 8].

Though a Catholic, Melinda Gates is making birth control her signature issue. It has been reported that 98 percent of Catholic women used artificial birth controls. Apparently, many Catholics agree with Melinda Gates: contraceptives are not the Church’s business.

Underlying many of the world’s problems is religion. Thomas Jefferson said, “Religion is based upon fables and mythology.” The Pope confirmed this, saying, “We are all sinners because of the sins of Adam and Eve,” — mythical characters.

Jefferson also said “Christ’s principles were early departed from by those who professed to be his special servants, and perverted into an engine for enslaving mankind, a mere contrivance to filch wealth and power to themselves.”

How many have been killed in the name of religion worldwide in the past 2000 years — and still no sign that the righteous are growing more civilized.

Keep religion, and its dogma, out of our government, according to our First Amendment.

— Spencer M. Higley, Edmonds