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Letters to the Editors

Everyone invited to attend prayer breakfast

Editor's note: The first three letters are in response to Prayer breakfast raises uncomfortable questions, column, May 9.
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I think I know from where the editor comes and I know exactly the message and the journalistic reasons behind the printing of same. What I don't understand or appreciate is why, after 24 years of having this fine, meaningful, spiritual activity coinciding with a Day of Prayer, that you saw fit to challenge it at this time.
As a member of the Largo City Commission for 10 years, I was proud to serve on the Prayer Breakfast Committee, chairing it for a number of years, and I can assure you that the committee represented a cross section of the civilian and religious community. All groups were invited.
Invitations to attend were extended to the entire religious community. That those of other persuasions would see fit not to attend is a personal decision that I respect and can and do defend. That would not and should not demean our efforts.
The criterion for the selection of our speaker was that the person have strong Christian principles with a message addressing the moral and religious needs for everyone in our community. No one has ever been excluded or not included in our invitations to attend and participate in any fashion that they may so desire. The suggestion that city staff or anyone who saw fit to attend did so for any reason other than to benefit spiritually and personally does you newspaper and our residents a disservice.
Should not this newspaper and its editorial staff join in doing all they can to support any and all activities of a spiritual nature, by any group that will get us back on track? I think you should.
Edwin I. Ford, Largo

City Hall is no place to push religious causes

Major thanks to Jack Reed for bringing attention to the use of our Largo tax dollars for religious functions at City Hall. Mayor Thomas Feaster suggests that the refusal of non-Christian religious figures to attend the Largo Mayor's Prayer Breakfast shows a lack of tolerance on their part.

Doubtless, Feaster would be surprised to find that many people who believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ also understand the conflict of interest such an event presents. Not all of my neighbors share my spiritual beliefs. Yet they are equally supporting our city with their tax dollars.

In respect to my neighbor's beliefs and in exchange for them respecting mine, most responsible governments at all levels recognize the importance of not promoting a specific religious agenda on city time and property.

Perhaps Mayor Feaster and company would do well to fervently support their religions at church and at home and save our valuable tax dollars for the interests of all.
-- Stephen S. Heath, Largo

Attendees thankful for prayer breakfast

Many years ago, Abraham Lincoln began the National Day of Prayer as a way to repent of our sins, give thanks for our great country, and pray for God's continued blessings, guidance and wisdom. How grateful we are that we were able to attend the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast in Largo and the noon Hour of Prayer.

We commend our mayor for taking a stand for morality and right. We commend him for asking the ministers of Largo to present an awesome program of prayers, Scripture readings, beautiful solos and commendations. We are honored to live in a community where God is worshiped and truth is upheld. We support Mayor Feaster, and we are privileged to know him.

Along with prayer for our nation and its leaders, we prayed for protection upon our public schools here in Largo. May what happened in Littleton, Colo., never happen here. May our children be able to discern right from wrong, truth from lies. Let's remember to cover them in prayer every day.
-- Harriet Jackson, Largo

Precedent may already exist for aid to Clearwater

Concerning the Clearwater City Commission's dilemma -- whether or not to accept a contribution to the library fund from the Church of Scientology -- the following could have established a precedent.

During the construction of Ruth Eckerd Hall, one of the fund-raising programs was the purchase of a chair in the hall. For a contribution of $1,000, a plaque, inscribed in whatever manner the donor wished, would be placed on the back of a chair.

During the construction period, a check for $1,000 for the purchase of a chair was received from the Church of Scientology.

As Performing Arts Center and Theater Inc. was in what could be termed a partnership with the city of Clearwater in that the city would eventually be the owners of the hall, and due to the city's adversarial relationship with the Church of Scientology, it was deemed inappropriate for PACT to accept the contribution.

In some subsequent year (can't remember which one) after Ruth Eckerd Hall was in operation (first performance on Oct. 15, 1983), the Church of Scientology once again sent a contribution to PACT. These funds were also returned to the church for the same reason that the first check was returned.

Had it not been for PACT's agreement with the city of Clearwater, these contributions could have been comfortably accepted.

I see no reason the city is under any obligation to accept any contribution it deems inappropriate from any organization or individual.
-- Howard G. Groth, Clearwater

Where there is sidewalk, walkers should use them

Re: Walkers, stay out of the street, letter, May 7.

I agree with the letter writer. I live off Nebraska Avenue in Palm Harbor. People walk down the middle of the street all the time, some listening to Walkman radios. One woman walks four dogs down the middle of the road, making cars cross to the opposite side.

In Florida, it is a law that you cannot walk in the road where there is a sidewalk provided.
-- Jerry Lavalette, Palm Harbor

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