I am writing in response to the editorial board’s article of Sept. 17 entitled “Consequences.”

In the article, you make the following statement:

“Biblically speaking, any act of sexual intercourse outside of marriage is considered a sin.”

From my understanding of Christianity, this is true.

Your article then proceeds to make the argument that “Sabin should not be fired or removed because of his sexual preference … that would be discriminatory.”

Also true. But you also claim that since he will be engaging in sex outside of marriage, then there are grounds for dismissal. Not true.

Your article is critically flawed, for you seem to imply that Sabin wishes to break these “fundamental principles” of his religion.

You are failing to recognize what has actually created the situation that exists for him and many others today. It is illegal in the state of Iowa for a gay couple to receive a marriage license, and this act of marriage is also unacceptable by most churches.

Did you consider the possibility that maybe if it were possible for him to marry the man he was in love with, he wouldn’t have to break these “fundamental principles?”

It isn’t Sabin’s practices which are wrong, it’s the laws and so-called standards which are flawed. You should be judging the laws and standards themselves, not Sabin.

He has not “forced” the church’s hand by “openly defying” their principles.

The ELCA and the government have restricted his rights.

This is about equal opportunity, not sex.

Robert Mohr

Senior

Architecture and inter-disciplinary cultural studies