July 25, 2012Dear Sir,Re: Christian-based bigotry versus Equal Right for All of UsFor centuries, the Holy Bible has been misused to encourage many bloody and merciless atrocities against mankind including massacres, crusades, inquisitions, slavery, apartheid, and the persecution of Jews.Recently in Bermuda, many misguided church leaders and misinformed Christians have publicly quoted the Bible as an excuse to prevent a small group of our people enjoying the same rights as everyone else. The Bible has been translated and altered many times. It is difficult to know the original meaning of the words in Hebrew or Greek. A study of the Old and New Testaments reveals a list of sexual rules and regulations which range from amusing to outright appalling. The fanatical manipulation of scripture is absurd and should not be tolerated by any of us. Shakespeare said “Even the devil can cite scripture for his purpose”.Nobel Peace Prize winner and retired Anglican Bishop Desmond Tutu equates homophobia with racism. He argues that gay people too are made in God’s image. He urges his fellow clerics, of all faiths, to stand up for the principals of universal dignity and fellowship. Sexual orientation, like skin colour, is another feature of our diversity as a human family. Isn’t it amazing that we are all made in God’s image, and yet there is so much diversity among his people?The Churches of Bermuda who have fought and lobbied our politicians for years to continue discrimination against our brothers and sisters are the same churches who do not pay Land Tax to support our country. It doesn’t seem fair, does it? On one hand we have a group who get a huge tax break but on the other hand a group of people who have been for many years humiliated and purposely denied rights and who have to continue to pay their own taxes to the very system which has mistreated them.Christian-based bigotry should not be allowed to interfere with the civil rights of any of us. Our politicians should be encouraged to act in the best interest for all of us and they should not pander to hateful whims that encourage continued division amongst us. Is it not better to look at the diverse members of our family with the truly Christian response of acceptance, support and love?SPIRITUAL CHRISTIANCity of Hamilton