Dear Editor:
 
It is important to remember that America is not a Christian nation and is not governed by Christian values.  Attempts by Christians to legislate their beliefs have resulted in lawsuits costing taxpayers millions and millions of dollars.Christianity is neither a fiscally responsible nor sustainable lifestyle choice.
 
The Christian god promoted malignant philosophies to which his followers adhere and recent studies have shown that the greatest terrorist threat in America is Christianity.  Many Christian organizations remain on National Security watch lists.  And more are being added.
 
Christians themselves seem intent on removing equal rights legislation which was hard-won throughout the twentieth century.Blacks, women, and homosexuals continue to struggle because of long-held Christian values.The ridiculous blockage of transgender rights is a great drain on America.
 
The fine line between child marriage and pedophilia is moot in the Christian world:both practices remain strong in the church even to its highest leaders.The fish stinks from the head down.
 
And abortion: How many anti-abortion, Christian, Republican congressmen are found forcing their mistresses to have an abortion?  (The same question can be asked of anti-gay, Christian, Republican congressmen found with male prostitutes or underage boys and drugs.)
 
People in glass churches should not throw stones.
 
What Christians seem to miss in their study of the Bible is that their god supported and prescribed abortions.   Several passages of the Bible, most notably Numbers 5 which contains a recipe to cause an abortion, are easily overlooked by Christians. So are the “judge not lest ye be judged” passages.
 
The Downey Patriot’s Letters to the Editor regarding an abortion clinic in our city are as self-righteous and lacking compassion as Christian issues in the national news. The last letter is devoid of empathy while relishing the number of family members of the clinic’s owner, his extended family, friends, and crew members who died in a plane crash on the way to a vacation. The Christian god is not a god of love or charity.
 
If, as Carl Vesper suggests, Downey needs to recognize and rid itself of the evil among us, let it begin with the churches.
 
Roy Anthony Shabla
Downey