I read the article and it seems to me that he sent out 2 or 3 quotes among others in that e-mail. The e-mail was not particularly religious in nature but it had religious elements. It seems he would have been just fine sending out the e-mail minus the religious content. Yes?
No.
Using a company/organization's mass email lists to send out personal messages is rude.
It implies that you think you are so important that everybody is dying to know what you think.