Quoting Bible to attack gays is hypocritical: By Leonard Pitts Jr.

[pinto]

OpEd piece from a contributor to the Knight-Ridder chain of papers.

© 2006 MiamiHerald.com and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.

An open letter to Donna Reddick:

I'm writing this for Desiree. She's a student at Miami Sunset Senior High, where you teach business technology. A few days ago, she sent me an e-mail recounting an incident that happened on campus last week.

It seems that on three successive days, the morning announcements, which are televised throughout the school, featured student-produced segments on the subject of gay rights.

On the first day came comments from students who took the pro position. On the second day came remarks from a counselor who spoke of the need for students to respect one another. On the third day came you.

You and a few students, actually. One told classmates homosexuality was ''unacceptable in the eyesight of God.'' Another said gays were ``unrighteous.''

The coup de grace, though, was you invoking Sodom and Gomorrah and telling students homosexuality was ''wrong according to the Bible'' because God ordered humanity to multiply, which gay couples cannot do.

Desiree was, to put it mildly, upset. In the e-mail, she accused you of bigotry and wondered how a gay student could feel assured ever again of fair treatment in your class. I tend to agree. She also suggested that you crossed the line between church and state, an accusation about which I'm more conflicted.

It seems to me there's a difference between proselytizing for a religion and explaining how one's faith has influenced one's opinion.

You're entitled to think what you think, no matter how stupid it might be.

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[proud2BlibKansan]

1. I have never thought of Leonard Pitts as conservative

[pinto]

2. That "assessment" may be off base. I don't mean it to take away

from his piece, which really is a good read.

[murielm99]

3. Leonard Pitts is not conservative!

He is my favorite columnist, too.

[pinto]

5. Taking Samuel Clemens' sage advice to heart, I've edited adjectives

and adverbs from my intro. Thanks for the feedback.

[Kenergy]

8. Mine too. He's good n/t

[ThomCat]

4. Wow. That's a great OpEd!

[sarcasmo]

6. The Religious way, it's OK to preach Hate and Bigotry because the

Bible says so.

[ovidsen]

10. That's the sad part

The Bible doesn't preach hatred and bigotry. At least my Bible doesn't.

I wonder what Bible they're reading?

[ismnotwasm]

7. Good for him!

I usually enjoy his writing.

[MountainLaurel]

9. Impressive

I wonder if she's feeling ashamed of her actions this morning. NOT!