Dear Sir,
SHAME
I cannot let James Harrigan’s piece from last week (April 5th) pass without comment. It was astonishing, on two counts, to read such a bigotted, hate-inducing, Old-Testament diatribe, written by someone who professes to be a Christian leader.
On religious grounds, this was scarcely the tone or content that Jesus would have used. He was compassionate, forgiving and understanding of all. His whole message was to love one another and he made no exceptions. He modified and negated many of the centuries-old myths and beliefs of the tribal people of the Old Testament in his all-encompassing teachings.
On secular grounds, Mr. Harrigan’s argument about homosexuals choosing their lifestyle is seriously flawed. The medical and psychological professions look on it as being a natural state for some people. Anyone who has ever worked with teenagers and young adults knows that not one of them, especially males, would willingly choose such a lifestyle, where they are harried and abused by their peers and adults like Mr. Harrigan, which is why many of them try to hide their true nature. They are people like everyone else who just want to be allowed to live their lives in peace. They are not a threat to anyone, as he would know if he had ever known one.
Intolerance is the curse of our world and the cause of many of its conflicts. An article like Mr. Harrigan’s does not help and could poison the opinions of others who respect his leadership. Shame !
Light and Peace
