LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG.

Byline: The Register-Guard

EDITOR'S NOTE: What follows is a sampling of reader reaction to Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy's decision not to attend this year's Mayors' Prayer Breakfast.

Sid Leiken made the right call

I must say that I am not surprised that Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy declined to go to the Mayors' Prayer Breakfast. I am disappointed in her decision, but not surprised. In a community that supposedly honors diversity, it is disappointing that she cannot lead by example.

Regarding the whole "church and state" issue, I challenge her to find any legal or historical document that directly says that there is to be a "separation of church and state." Her assumption that the people of this city would assume that the breakfast is a "government sponsored event" is a cowardly way of trying to disassociate herself from anything identified as Christian.

Eugene has always prided itself on being a city of tolerance and acceptance. It seems, however, that anything that has to do with Christianity is always the exception to that rule. I give kudos to Springfield Mayor Sid Leiken, who has decided to look at what is best for his community rather than try to find ways to divide it. Maybe that is why so many people and businesses are leaving Eugene and moving to Springfield.

What responsible city leader would turn down an invitation to join 500 community leaders and contributors in a community-building event? Outside of athletics, what other locally sponsored event attracts that kind of participation? It is sad and disappointing that a mayor who pledged to be a "mayor for all Eugene" really isn't.

JENNIFER GASKILL

Eugene

Mayor made correct decision

I applaud Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy for upholding one of the fundamental principles of our democracy: the separation of church and state.

For years I have heard of our previous mayors attending the annual Mayors' Prayer Breakfast and felt it was inappropriate for them to use their positions in public office to promote their religion. Having read the April 10 account in The Register-Guard by Rabbi Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin, it is quite apparent that in the past, the agenda has been intolerant of faiths other than Christian.

I am incensed by those in our community who would criticize Mayor Piercy for not attending this unofficial event, which should not even be called the Mayors' Prayer Breakfast. This brave woman honestly stands for the people who elected her to office.

Eugene is a finely woven fabric of faiths of all kinds. And around the edge is a fringe of agnostic and atheistic views. This is who we are. This is why we live here. This is why Kitty Piercy has been elected as our mayor.

I regret that she has to endure this ridiculous barrage of negative blather from the self-righteous and narrow minded. She deserves better. We all do.

ROGENE MANAS

Eugene

'A mayor for all who agree'

I found Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy's stand on the Mayors' Prayer Breakfast interesting but not particularly surprising. What's stated about "separation of church and state" seems a convenient and politically correct stance based more on her feelings about Christianity than worrying about tarnishing her unbiased position on religious separation from government.

Her fears of hurting Rabbi Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin's feelings are noble. By the same token, mine are hurt every time she uses her position as an elected official to promote abortion for any reason. Or by ignoring Oregonians' wishes and sneaking tax and fee increases in at every turn.

Does anyone who knows Piercy think that if she attended this prayer breakfast that the city of Eugene would be promoting Christianity? In Eugene, we are encouraged to celebrate diversity. That includes mingling, understanding and participating with people in events that have value to different groups.

I remember the lawn signs plastered all over Eugene during an endless election with the words "A mayor for all of Eugene." Apparently, what this really means is, "Give me your vote and your dollars and I will be a mayor for all in Eugene who think like me."

BOB MOORE 

Eugene

Piercy won't politicize religion

Mayor Kitty Piercy deserves applause for her courageous decision not to attend the Mayors' Prayer Breakfast. In this time when, despite our much-vaunted separation of church and state, more and more politicians are wearing their faith on their sleeve to gain political advantage, it is thoroughly refreshing to read of a politician who says, in effect: "I respect religion too much to politicize it."

Mayor Piercy will undoubtedly suffer harsh criticism on these pages for her decision. This will be unfair, and un-American. One's faith must never be the target of public rebuke, nor used as a political weapon. Personal religious beliefs are just that: personal. Our nation's founders were quite explicit on that point.

There is an adage that says asking politicians about their religious beliefs is begging to be lied to. Mayor Piercy has proven herself the exception. She deserves high praise for her dignity in choosing to keep her religion close to heart.

TODD HUFFMAN

Eugene

Breakfast has 20-year history

So the mayor of Eugene doesn't want to attend the Mayors' Prayer Breakfast. Too bad, as this has been a community event for 20 years.

Of course, Mayor Kitty Piercy is willing to go to the University of Oregon to attend a diversity/discrimination meeting. The very subject stirs up areas that are offensive to many in our city. At least we will have the mayor of Springfield. Too bad Piercy can't be a mayor for all the people.

CLAIRE WILLIAMS

Eugene

Christians part of community

Mayor Kitty Piercy said she would be a mayor for all Eugene when she was running for office, but that isn't true at all. She has managed to alienate about half of our community by refusing to participate in the annual Mayors' Prayer Breakfast.

She used the typical liberal response of separation of church and state. The event is held during nonworking hours and paid for by tickets bought by community members. No city funds are used for this event, so what's the problem?

Not long after she refused to attend the prayer breakfast, she was at the University of Oregon attending a diversity rally. Hello, is there anybody in there? Christians are also part of this community, as are Jewish people, Muslims, atheists and other individuals.

Springfield Mayor Sid Leiken, as usual, is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise unreasonable environment. Springfield should be proud of him and the city councilors for their level-headed approach to politics. Inclusiveness is in the dictionary. Piercy should look it up. Until then in Eugene we can only hang our heads and laugh.

STEVE HAWKE

Eugene

Piercy honors city's diversity

I am grateful to Mayor Kitty Piercy for declining the invitation to the Mayors' Prayer Breakfast. Those who believe that Christian prayer is the answer to difficulties are free to practice their beliefs. Some of us think we need more than that in the political arena.

We are a diverse people in Eugene, some of us not religious in the conformist sense, but open to dissent and critical thinking in the solution of community problems.

As the brilliant religious scholar Karen Armstrong has said, all religions are based on one common thread: that we be kind and compassionate as human beings and love our neighbors.

IDA SPAULDING

Eugene

Christian beliefs aren't all alike

Thoughtless prose should find no home in a reputable newspaper, especially not when that paper chooses to editorialize on the most deeply held and potentially divisive convictions of its readers.

But what is one to make of the May 5 editorial "Seize teachable moment"?

The editorial says "organizers of last year's prayer breakfast pointed to their own faith in Jesus Christ as the sole path to salvation. That's what Christians believe, and if they back down from that belief they're not Christians anymore."

The editorial suggests that only out of courtesy should one refrain from stating this belief at a nondenominational prayer breakfast attended by peoples of many faiths and elected government officials.

Perhaps the organizers of last year's prayer breakfast believe that the words attributed to Jesus in John 14:6 - "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me" - deny salvation to non-Christians; perhaps the writer of the editorial believes so; but that is certainly not what all Christians believe.

Of what use is the time-honored practice of community prayer breakfasts if they are merely a platform for public affirmation of "the" path to salvation, and not an opportunity for all men and women of good faith to come together in search of a common commitment to the community here and now?

DANIEL MURPHY 

Eugene

It's Kitty Piercy's way or no way

I see the liberal Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy is at it again. She won't attend the Mayors' Prayer Breakfast. This certainly says a lot about her character, which is zilch.

The new buzz words are separation of church and state, but obviously, she hasn't read the Constitution - or probably anything else, for that matter. She says she wants diversity, but when it comes to freedom of religion, I guess that doesn't count.

She's only for diversity for people who don't want to learn English. As is true with most liberals, it's her way or no way.

RITA JOST 

Sutherlin