Editor:
There has been some confusion concerning a letter that I wrote to The Maroon in response to the front cover of the April 1 issue.
The front cover displayed a picture of a group of homosexuals participating in an Easter parade, supported by a caption that read “An alternative Easter Sunday celebration.”
It was primarily this juxtaposition of homosexuality and Easter that I had intended to speak out against, but some of my fellow students saw fit to respond by putting words in my mouth and misrepresenting my position.
Although ad hominems and strawmen hardly merit a response on my part, and although I would much prefer to discuss civil rights policy in a more personal environment, I feel that the confusion I have caused demands a clarification. The critical reader pays careful attention to a writer’s use of language, expecting that a good writer will employ language with equal parts concision and precision.
Furthermore, the critical reader is careful to observe what is not said as well as what is said. The critical reader, therefore, will notice that I said nothing in my previous letter of my alleged fear of homosexuals nor of my opinion on the political rights of homosexuals.
Since the gist of that letter was apparently missed by at least two of the students of this “critical thinking university,” though, the fault must be mine for not stating my argument clearly enough.
Consider the following as my recapitulation: Homosexuality is a sin. Both testaments of the Bible, as well as the official teaching of the Church (thanks, Mr. Weis), affirm this. It follows, then, that homosexuals are sinners.
Lying, stealing, hatred and lust are also sins, however, so it follows that those who engage in these activities are sinners as well. In fact, the Bible goes so far as to say that all have sinned. Furthermore, the Bible says that the wages of sin is death and that the shedding of blood is required for the forgiveness of sins.
Rather than forcing us to face the consequences for our sins, However, God graciously provided a once-for-all atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world in the death of his only begotten son, Jesus Christ.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds we have been healed.
Nate StraightMusic business junior
