[CentOS] rsync and selinux

I'm trying to use rysnc to back up some directories on a CentOS6 machine
that uses selinux in enforcing mode. Most files didn't transfer, so I tried
the example from rsync_selinux(8):

       Allow rsync servers to read the /var/rsync directory by adding the pub-
       lic_content_t file type to the directory  and  by  restoring  the  file
       type.

       semanage fcontext -a -t public_content_t "/var/rsync(/.*)?"
       restorecon -F -R -v /var/rsync

 except I substituted /etc for /var/rsync.

 Big mistake. Most or all services with config files under /etc could
 no longer read their config files, including ssh. It looks like the selinux
 type was substituted rather than added? Thankfully, I was able to recover.

 What is the correct way to give rsync full access to everything under
 selinux?