This letter is a response to Peggy Weddell’s June 3 letter, “Voting wrong: Bishop stepped over the line.” In defense of Bishop Michael Sheridan I have several points to make:
1. He did not “impose” his prejudices on the “public” as implied by her letter. As a Catholic leader he was expressing himself in a public forum regarding the stance of the Catholic church on the issue of abortion. Bishop Sheridan was making the point that life is from God and to directly, or indirectly, advocate its destruction is tantamount to complicity. In no way by his comments did he “claim to know every condition upon which each individual choice is made.”
2. There is no “world conversion agenda based upon so-called theocratic values” in the Christian church. In John 18:38 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” The goal of Christianity is merely to spread the Gospel. True heart-felt “conversion” is the result of individual choice.
3. I am not a student of theology and do not know why “the religious think they are the only one with a path to God.” I do know that Jesus claimed to be the only path to God. Take it or leave it.
4. In regard to the terms “greater good,” “enlightenment” and “courage,” they would need to be defined in order to be taught. But by whose definition, whose standard?
5. Bishop Sheridan did not step over the line. He, in his position of a Catholic official, expressed the position of the Catholic church in accordance with the Christian faith. His admonishment was directed to Catholics alone and had no intended bearing on anyone else. If people felt imposed upon, that was their choice.
TAMARA BACON
Edmonds
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