Church Verdict

Your editorial (May 22), “The Clergy as Counselors,” failed to mention the recent $30 million judgment against the Church of Scientology in Portland, Ore. This judgment is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to destroy this religion by those who disagree with its beliefs.

Allowing persons who practice a religion and then decide that is doesn’t live up to their expectations to sue for punitive damages will bring about the end of organized religion in this country.

I can only hope that this sort of attack on religious freedom will remain as an isolated reminder of what can happen to our constitutional rights when emotion rules over reason, and will not be allowed to spread throughout the American justice system.

THOMAS E. SPENCER

Inglewood