Bob Ream's Letter to the Editor

Go Bob! I meet Bob years ago. He is a great guy.


By Bob Ream, 521 Clarke St. - 08/28/08
In response to: Your Turn 8/22/08 by B.G. Stumberg:The earliest white settlers came to America to escape religious persecution. This great nation of ours was founded on the principle of religious freedom. Pastor Stumberg is purposely trying to confuse the issues of religious freedom and pulpit politicking. He cloaks the political advocacy that he spouts in his church under the guise of free speech. Of course he has a right to free speech, but when he engages in political advocacy, he and his church should be treated like any political action committee. But more importantly, he has crossed the line separating church and state.His claim of being pro-marriage is simply hiding behind another cloak, the cloak of hatred that consumes so much time and energy in the political arena today, time and energy that would be better spent addressing the real issues of poverty, hunger, education, crime, jobs and the economy. Hatred is an insidious force hidden behind a veil of righteousness.
al wrote on Aug 28, 2008 3:42 PM:
" If Jesus and his apostles moved in next door to some these so-called Christians, they'd start wailing that the neighborhood was going Gay. "

John Adams wrote on Aug 28, 2008 1:37 PM:
" Mr. Ream is unfair in his response to Pastor Stumbergs article in the IR. Mr. Ream says His claim of being pro-marriage is simply hiding behind another cloak, the cloak of hatred that consumes so much time and energy in the political arena today, time and energy that would be better spent addressing the real issues of poverty, hunger, education, crime, jobs and the economy. Hatred is an insidious force hidden behind a veil of righteousness. There wasnt an ounce of hatred in Pastor Stumbergs article. I would bet Pastor Stumberg does more for poverty, hunger, education, crime, jobs and the economy than Mr. Ream could ever do. Children raised in two parent families, with a father and a mother, have a much greater chance of avoiding poverty, hunger, crime and have paying jobs than children raised in one-parent families or same sex parent families. Its obvious Mr. Ream is the one who suffers from hatred of religion. The Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion. How can it be free if youre hauled into court for talking about your beliefs in church? "

whocares wrote on Aug 28, 2008 10:03 AM:
" Nicemamma2 Youre quoting the old testemate. I guess you don't eat anything with coved hooves, or sleep in the same room as a woman thats on her period. Did you religious people forget about the rest of the Bible? When God said every sin is a slap in his face. The murderer is just as bad as the thief. The part where God sent his savior to take away every ones sins blah blah blah. So what if a man wants to be with a man or a chick with a chick. The church doesnt own marriage. If two gay people want to marry more power to them. Slap a name on it and call it a new religion. "

mama2 wrote on Aug 28, 2008 9:39 AM:
" Just because you think immorality is ok, doesn't mean God does. This pastor did not cross any line, if anything the government has crossed a line."If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination." (Leviticus 20:13). "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. Nor shall you mate with any animal, to defile yourself with it. Nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it. It is perversion. Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you." (Leviticus 18:22-24). "

Adam Laceky wrote on Aug 28, 2008 2:16 AM:
" More to the point, the Independent Record is not tax-exempt, as the Canyon Ferry Baptist Church is. Churches are exempt specifically because they agree to respect the wall of separation between church and state. Some churches want it both ways, it seems: to be tax-exempt under the separation clause of the 1st Amendment, but also be political forces under the free speech clause.They're always free to say whatever they want. But when they tear down the wall of separation, they effectively renounce their ecclesiastical status, and any claim to tax exemption.What other organizations get a break like that? "