I recently read of the opposition being mounted again by some Christian groups to the gay rights law recently signed by the governor (April 1). I remember some teachings from the churches (many different ones) I attended throughout my youth and into adulthood. Those churches all had the same theme of tolerance and forgiveness for serious offenses that we, as their flock, may have committed in our youth or again as adults. Those offenses ran the gamut from white lies to small thefts and some large thefts, impure thought (seems funny now), being rude or nasty, and all the way up the ladder to coveting a neighbor’s wife.

Now we have some local religious leaders who should be tending to their flocks and helping their members to grow and become the people they want them to be (and, I would hope, the person the individual wants to be themselves). Those leaders are forming a coalition to attack what they consider outrageous behavior by certain individuals whom they feel are the scum of the earth, and who will drag all of us into the depths of hell if we don’t fight and defeat them.

Sounds more like an army on the move rather than teaching those who wish to follow how to find the way.

I would suggest they leave the rest of us alone to figure out which way we want to lean, and to permit us that right as well.

Syd Cohen, Lewiston