TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Letters To The Editor

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 25, 2007

Biblical Misinterpretation

Regarding "What Would Jesus Do With Cash?" (Commentary, Nov. 18):

I profess my belief in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Like Joseph Brown, I am troubled by the excessive lifestyle of these preachers. Their first responsibility should be to care for their congregation.

Though I agreed with the overall theme of his article, there was a point he made that has no Biblical basis.

Brown said, "Jesus...despised the rich and powerful." Not true. Jesus despised the abuse of money and power. There are several examples in the Bible of very rich people who were considered great by Jesus and God.

Jesus' ancestor, King David, was regarded by God "...as a man after my very own heart." David was incredibly rich. King David's son, Solomon, was given riches by God in recognition of Solomon's desire to be a good ruler. Luke, the writer of the Gospel of Luke, was a physician.

JIM EDDY

Lutz

Continue Investigation

I have been keeping up with the news about Senator Grassley and the investigation into the finances of certain religious organizations, and I believe it's long overdue. I believe people like the Whites are charlatans of the highest degree.

I am a Christian, raised in a Christian home and went to church as a child. I cannot recall seeing our pastors living in such high style. I know that in my time my elders would have never stood for pastors who drove Bentleys and Cadillacs around on money that come from neighbors and friends. Of course our communities were never able to support these kinds of pastors.

I hope the investigation comes to fruition and puts the likes of theses unscrupulous people out of business - for that is what it is, a business, led by greed.

MAXINE HAMMOND

Land O' Lakes

Religious Profiling?

It sounds like "religious profiling" is being used to target certain non-traditional churches and pastors. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the older and more mainstream churches take in more money on a single Sunday than these profiled churches do in an entire year. Are they being investigated also, or is it all right for them to wield power and spend as they wish because they are too big to intimidate?

Could it be that some of the "profiled" church leaders in the past went too far in expanding their flock? Have some of these leaders gone into neighborhoods, enslaving residents, taking their property and forcing them to erect places of worship?

Finally, if the buildings and grounds of the Vatican were to go on the market today, what would be the asking price?

STEVE HUNT

St. Petersburg

Reopen This Case

Regarding "Justice For Willie James" (Commentary, Nov. 18):

Thanks for publishing the Willie James Howard Story. The most shocking thing to me was Attorney General McCollum's rebuttal. I won't characterize his writing, but I will just say that after reading it I still don't understand why he won't reopen the case. I sincerely wish he would.

JOHNNY G. LYON

Tampa

Abusive Boyfriends

Regarding "Studies: Abuse Higher In Nontraditional Families" (Nation/World, Nov. 18):

Bravo for the article. Over the last 30 years there seems to have been a "whatever" attitude to "shackin' up" - it's none of our business what two adults do. This is true - if it were only adults involved. But, alas, children who are unprotected from evil-doers are our business.

It seems every week I read or hear or about a little child beaten, battered or murdered by the battering boyfriend. If a woman gets pregnant and wants to keep and raise the child sans father, that is her right, but when she brings in boyfriend after boyfriend to fill the void in her life, she plays a dangerous game.

Studies suggest that a father or good committed surrogate father who raises a child from infancy is more apt to not sexually abuse the child as it ages. Bring a new man around when your daughter is a budding teenager is asking for trouble.

DOUGLAS RUTKOWSKI

Tampa

No More Taxpayer Money

Regarding "Stadium Proposal A Year In The Works" (front page, Nov. 17):

When will this madness end? Here we go with talk of building another stadium with taxpayer money for a multibillion dollar industry that should be building its own stadiums.

A law should be passed right now banning the spending of any tax money on any stadium or arena for any pro sports team. All the liberal politicians should at least be screaming that the billions wasted on stadiums in the past 15 years could have been used on some of your favorite socialist programs like health insurance and housing the poor.

Stop using my tax money for stadiums now!

ADRIAN CORNELLIER

Odessa

The Trop Is Just Fine

To relocate the Rays stadium to the Al Lang Field location is a mistake. There is no parking for the proposed stadium. Searching for parking will cause traffic jams and escalate road rage. This will also displace people needing parking for nearby businesses. Traffic at a Yankees or Reds game is bad as it is.

Most people will not want to be without air conditioning. As proposed, the afternoon sun will be in the eyes of those in left field, making it hard to see the game. Many people, especially older fans, could not tolerate the humidity and heat. People complain about this at Bucs games. The local minor league teams have open stadiums and I have not enjoyed those games as much as those in the Trop.

The Trop has supported baseball for 10 years with no problems. The game has not changed, why would the stadium?

RANDY BAYNE

Valrico

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT