Religion is a topic which seems to always spark strong opinions.

Almost everyone has encountered it at some point.

Eventually, discussing religion seems to snake its way to abortion issues, which is yet another topic about which people feel strongly.

Last weekend, I happened to be back in my hometown. Whenever I am there, I go to church on Sunday like a good little Catholic — mostly to humor my very Catholic mother.

Most times I can tolerate that hour, but this time was different.

The priest stepped up to the pulpit and began his sermon.

He started talking about a great time in Christian history — the Crusades.

He spoke of saving the great holy places, such as Jerusalem, from the heathens who occupied them.

Perhaps it is just me, but the Crusades were one of the most bloody, pointless wars in the history of mankind.

It amounted to killing those who did not believe the same thing and taking the land from its own people.

It’s not a glorious time in history, but instead one big bloodstain in the name of God.

By this time, I already was getting a bit edgy.

The priest then continued on about how we must keep the commandments.

If someone disobeys the commandment “Thou shall not Kill,” they are disobeying all the commandments.

He then explained how this is so. One example was that the weapon and power becomes a false god.

Alright, so that is a big old hole in the whole Crusades story, isn’t it? Maybe this does not qualify since it occurred in the name of God.

It is possible he was reading some watered-down history text that skipped over that spilling-the- heathens’- blood thing.

I was getting a bit confused. I wanted to stand up and question this guy’s reasoning; sadly, too many people there knew me and would have told my mother. Not to mention I was sitting in a pew with two nuns.

The priest continued, calling for a new crusade, a pro-life crusade. He also encouraged protesting President Clinton’s veto of the partial-birth abortion bill.

He mentioned writing to newspapers, voicing our opinions on the topic of abortion — to take action against the great evil that is abortion.

I wanted to walk right out of there, but I stopped and thought about it.

A pro-life crusade inspired by the crusades of old. Let’s all rally together and kill the abortion clinics in the name of God!

There’s nothing wrong with it as long as we proclaim God’s name. Destroy all those with a differing view point.

I will admit that I did follow one of his calls. I’m writing my opinion for the world to see.

However, I doubt this is what he had in mind.

Personally, I am pro-life, but I am also pro-choice. I have heard from so many religious types that I cannot be both.

Phshaw, I say.

I support the life of the child, but I also support the life of the mother.

If abortions become illegal, it does not stop them from occurring. A hanger and a back- alley is not a reasonable alternative.

Keeping abortion legal keeps abortions safe.

We can’t eliminate trained professionals who know how to perform them correctly.

I will not force my own values onto others.

No one has the right to decide the value system of others. Religion should be the primary example of this.

There are numerous religions throughout the world, and who decides which one is right or wrong? The answer is simple — no one.

I’m sure I will have the religious right breathing down my neck as they call me a Satan worshiping atheist, which is a nice contradiction in terms.

I am agnostic. I have my own beliefs and they just don’t fit into any organized religion.

Does that make me wrong?

Must another person’s value system be placed onto me? I support anyone’s beliefs and opinions because it is one of the things upon which our nation was founded. I may get upset at what you have to say, but it is your right to say it.

Just do not try to force-feed me something I cannot swallow.

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Andrew Seitz is junior in drawing, painting and printmaking from Dyersville.