Remember story of Pomponio Algerio

Remember story of Pomponio Algerio

Those readers who disapprove of Dawn Sherman and her father's stand to preserve the separation of church and state might consider the story of Pomponio Algerio, only one of thousands of similar stories throughout history.

Pomponio lived at a time when the government and a particular religion worked in tandem. Mr. Algerio was a very religious person, but his ideas concerning religion were not acceptable to the religious organization in power. He was imprisoned because of his religious beliefs and, when he did not repent, the church turned him over to the state for punishment.

The state executed him by boiling him in a mixture of oil, tar and turpentine. He survived for 15 minutes before dying. It was reported he displayed so much steadfastness in the face of death that everyone was in awe.

Our Founding Fathers, some of whom came to this country to escape religious persecution, were wise to insist we keep government and religion separate, and they did so in the Constitution's Bill of Rights. I cannot understand why anyone would want to change that.

Thomas C. Curtis

Rolling Meadows