Editor, Times-Union: In response to Mr. Hite's 4-13 letter, undoubtedly many heinous acts have been carried out in the name of religion. Martin Luther himself condemned a mentally handicapped young man to drowning because he said he was "possessed by devils." (Psychology college textbook from IPFW, 1985). Saint Margaret Clitherow, a 33-year-old mother of three, was crushed to death in 1586 under Queen Elizabeth I for having Mass said in her home. (St. Margaret Clitherow - "The Pearl of York" by Margaret T. Monro). After Ferdinand and Isabella toppled Moorish Spain in the last part of the 1500s, many high-ranking Moslems converted to Catholicism. Sadly, this move was only to keep their coveted positions and they later led a brutal Inquisition in the name of Catholicism. ("Christ the King, Lord of History" by Anne W. Carroll.) Countless numbers of Catholics have died for the faith, from the first martyr, St. Stephen, and numerous others, by the Jews, those who died in the Collosseum, thousands in England under the Protestant Revolt and the millions annihilated by Hitler and Stalin during their massacres, to name only a fraction of instances. One Eastern rite of Catholics was almost completely destroyed during Stalin's reign ("Fatima in Twilight," by Mark Fellows). Tyndale and Wyndcliffe were condemned for their heresies, by refusing the authority of the church. Mr. Hite's other claims are false and unsubstantiated.
Those who cleave only to the Bible are denying themselves many beautiful gifts from Christ that were handed down to us from the Apostles in the Deposit of Faith. If Christ intended for his teachings to be solely from the Bible, he would have left one with the Apostles in his own written hand just as God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. The New Testament was compiled approximately 300 years after the Ascension. We in no way intend to detract from the holiness and importance of holy scripture, but it is only a part, not the whole teaching of Christianity. The Bible was only relatively recently available to the masses. Those who subscribe to the concept of salvation through sola scriptura lack an accounting for those faithful who lived after Christ but before the Bible, those millions with faith, but the inability to read, and those millions who never touched a Bible before JohannGutenburg's invention of moveable type in 1450.
Tom and Melissa Waikel Milford via e-mail
School Assault
Editor, Times-Union: My niece, Jennica Helblig, was the teen beaten by another student at Whitko High School. The attack occurred March 12 but she was taken to Parkview Hospital the following Sunday morning. Two holes had to be drilled into her skull to relieve the pressure on her brain. She was also put on a respirator for seven days. Jennica was in a coma for three days. A week ago this past Sunday she was taken off the respirator and the tubes in her head were removed. It was very touch and go and I can't begin to tell you the emotion our family has gone through. As of this letter, Jennica is doing better, she can sit up in bed and she can get around the room. Many more months of therapy are going to be needed to get her back to normal.
Why did this happen? Over a $25 bet. Someone offered a student money to beat up another student - just pick someone out of the crowd and cause a big commotion. A number of students knew this was going to happen, there are reports that pictures were taken. I'm asking that anyone who knows more of the facts about this, contact a teacher or guidance counselor. I know more people know what happened. Maybe people thought it wouldn't go this far, that no one would get seriously injured. Someone did get injured.
When you become an adult, you must take responsibility for your actions.
Please do what you can to help Jen.
Edward E. Lynch Claypool
Roadside Trash
Editor, Times-Union: We are writing to you regarding the problem of roadside trash. Now that the snow has melted, some of the ditches around the area look pretty bad. We are not sure of all of the multiple reasons for this problem. However, we think no matter what the reasons, littering and dumping are big problems at present. The causes are surely various, and it is unlikely that the problems can be completely and rapidly solved.
It is only fair, in our opinion, to offer some solutions when pointing out a problem. Let us suggest a few. There is a toll-free Indiana number 877-985-6556 to report dumping. There is a Web site available, which is www.reportdumping.org
Volunteering to pick up trash as part of a group is an option or doing it informally may be done as well (if you do this, be careful of traffic).
Although not usually recommended, my neighbor pursued a dumper and was able to get the sheriff's department involved.
The results of a better looking roadside should speak for themselves. It is depressing, as well as hard on the self-image, to live in an ugly environment.
We would like to welcome visitors to our area and not be embarrassed to have them drive along our back roads. And, finally, thank you to all of you whom we've seen out there picking up litter. We sincerely appreciate you.
