With sadness and sorrow, I am both disappointed and disgusted in learning about the degradation and defacing of the Beth Tikvah Synagogue in Richmond.  

No logical, nor theological, reason can condone any such derogatory and malicious act. Canadian standards of decency, goodwill and respect have been vandalized as well.

Constant diligence and commitment need to be part of every citizen’s daily work to ensure these Canadian values are known and sustained.  

David Spence,
Port Moody

Unfair to Christian Palestinians

Re: ‘Persecution of Christians Growing’ (Readers Forum, February): I would like to spotlight persecuted Christians in Palestine.

Bethlehem is cut off from the West Bank by Israel’s illegal ‘security’ wall. Businesses are dying, unemployment is at 60 percent, the city is broke and people are suffering.

We are led to believe Muslims are causing this oppression, but that is untrue. Muslims and Christian Palestinians have greatly respected each other for centuries.

It is unconscionable for us to allow an entire population to suffer at the hands of an unjust four-decade occupation, and to tolerate our government’s support for it.

The West has a misguided bias for Israel. We label dissent about her policies as ‘anti-Semitic.’ We give her weapons and foreign aid. We veto UN resolutions which criticize her. Western Christians with conscience must urge governments to abandon this favoritism.

Awareness and action might save Christian Palestinians – the caretakers of Christianity in the Holy Land – from extinction.

Y.S. Chan,
Vancouver

Why is Canada in Afghanistan?

As the Canadian death toll continues to rise in Afghanistan, I continue to ask myself: “Why are we there?”

We are certainly not fulfilling our once proud peacekeeping role; it has been replaced with the ugliness of war.

The Taliban have not invaded us, nor are they threatening to do so. They have no air force, no navy and no weapons of mass destruction – and they certainly can’t throw a stone this far. So why are we there – half a world away – at war with them?

Glen Kruck,
Brandon, MB

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Catholicism anchored in Christ

Re: ‘True church not unified in truth’ (Readers’ Forum, April): With all due respect to Richard Williams, I think he misrepresents the goals of Catholic teaching.

Having been raised in the Catholic tradition, I can say that a ‘personal relationship’ with God is not a foreign idea to a Catholic; nor is surrendering our sinful ways so as to be ‘born again’ in Christ’s love.

But let us not be naïve. A personal relationship with Christ can soon drift into a personalized relationship, if left to our individual devices; that is, we begin to create an image of Christ based on our personal preferences and interpretations.

There are more than 200 Protestant denominations worldwide; thus, I find it difficult to concede that Protestant evangelism has been a more unifying force toward truth.

When two ‘equally inspired’ evangelicals draw different conclusions regarding biblical truth, how do they resolve this?

Reading the Bible and receiving grace from the Holy Spirit is an all-important step on the journey to knowing Christ. Staying on the path, however, requires a lot more investment.

I have found that the sacraments, ceremonies and catechism of the Catholic Church were designed to nurture and enhance our relationship with Christ – and hence our relationship with the Father.

Catholic teachings and rituals reaffirm wholeheartedly that Jesus is the way, the truth and the light; and the Bible is the anchor and the authority around which all this teaching is designed.

Jack Chambers,
Langley

Prayer request from Philippines

I am a pastor of pioneering work in Pepang Village, which is in Surigao City. My great desire is to help our Filipino children and bring them to the Lord.

We need your prayers, especially since we plan to gather all the street children – to teach and feed them, in both spiritual and material things. Through this vision, we hope to win more souls to Christ.

We need your prayers and help, to build a fellowship place where we can gather the street children.

May God bless your ministry richly.
Timothy F. Lagrama,
Box 10, 8400 Surigao City,
Philippines

May 2007