Is there a more inappropriate place on Earth than a worship sanctuary for someone to carry a gun?

Now that Texas has a law that allows licensed Texans to carry firearms out in the open, the issue has arisen among church leaders about whether to allow guns inside their houses of worship.

My sincere hope is that churches will not go there, that senior pastors, priests, rabbis or imams will draw the line. Keep your guns in your motor vehicles outside.

A lawyer representing Catholic Diocese in Amarillo predicted that the bishop won’t allow guns into church sanctuaries. Fred Griffin said that guns run totally counter to the teachings of the church, that sanctuaries need to be free of these weapons of violence.

Gosh. Do you think?

I’m keeping my mind wide open on open carry. I’ve expressed some misgivings about the law enabling those who have concealed carry licenses to pack heat in the open.

I’m not going to say categorically that it’s a bad idea.

However, I cannot fathom the concept of someone walking into a church sanctuary to worship his or her God while packing a weapon in a holster. I can think of few circumstances that present a greater incongruity.

Perhaps some preachers have no problem with the idea of guns in a sanctuary. I hope, though, that they consult with their congregations before deciding to allow firearms into their house of worship.