To the editor:
I read your article entitled, “Swampscott church ready to fight school,” (Item, May 11) and I was amazed.
When Swampscott asked the Unitarian Universalist church to provide an easement on their property for a new elementary school only for limited hours and days, so that children could exit the school safely, the church refused.
Basically, they said they would take the town to court. This sounds to me very different from “all who come here are welcome.” And to make matters worse — this is for the children.
The church has a right to do what they want with their property. After all, this is a free country. However, they are being very stringent with property on which they don’t pay taxes. I think it is time that Massachusetts reconsider the tax-exempt status of religious institutions. Especially ones that behave this way.
Glen Ahearn
Peabody
