Gov. Perry's pray-in: the church becomes the state

ONE WONDERS: Are we reaching the point where the separation of church and state is no longer a national issue because church is actually replacing state in the corridors of political power? There is no better example of this merger than the one that will occur in Texas on Saturday - the date set aside for Gov. Rick Perry's seven-hour pray-in that is being orchestrated by some of the nation's leading right-wing religious groups.

Perry, who is said to be considering a presidential candidacy, denies there is a whit of politics in the spacious event in Houston's Reliant Stadium. Besides, the guv's partner, the American Family Association, is picking up the tab. The association's shopping list of social concerns not only oppose the usual suspects as abortion and homosexuality, but also has an interesting excursion into the Constitution. The AFA argues that freedom of religion only applies to Christians!

So far, the event has only received 8,000 RSVP's for the stadium that holds 71,000. However it turns out, it will doubtless be a an A-list subject in Sunday's news - which would certainly please the "non-political" governor.