Schuller on Counseling President Clinton

As I read the Rev. Robert H. Schuller’s “Pastoral Outreach Knows No Politics” (Commentary, Feb. 14), my mind went back to the Oklahoma City bombing tragedy. I recall watching that very powerful service and hearing Billy Graham’s words of healing and hope. My thoughts at that time were, “Who else can stand before us with such dignity and grace? Who can speak to our nation?”

Schuller has written an important word to us all. May we have ears to hear and hearts to understand. May we, each one, look within and allow God to work. May we, then, look out for the tasks God calls us to do. May we join hands in the work of repairing and restoring.

STEPHEN E. HASPER, Pastor

Granada Hills Baptist Church

Granada Hills

Schuller allows that as a people “we must not allow ego, power or prestige to cloud our focus,” yet his whole column was a paean to his own ego as a minister--a masterpiece of subtle association, self-promotion and pride. It certainly missed its mark.

BURT WILSON

Simi Valley

Schuller lauds President Clinton’s looking to the Bible for spiritual sustenance. However, in his article Schuller said “those we have chosen to lead must be held close to the word of the Creator.” The problem is determining which “Creator” and then determining which “word” of that Creator.

In a society that separates church and state, it is a mistake to hold any public official, particularly our most powerful, to any theological belief system. Conscientious people can disagree on whether or not Schuller’s God even exists. There can also be good-faith disagreement over whether any culture’s claimed holy scripture constitutes the true “word” of that God.

We must stop measuring our political leaders by our personal religious preferences.

EDWARD TABASH, Chair

National Legal Committee

Americans United for Separation

of Church and State, Beverly Hills

Re “Schuller Role at White House Ruffles Flock,” Feb. 17:

As a Democrat and supporter of President Clinton it may no longer be safe for me to live in Orange County. Pastor Schuller’s flock is apparently “without sin” and therefore has earned the right to “cast the first stone.” And I thought I, as a Lutheran, and President Clinton, as a Baptist, were also eligible for Christ’s redemption.

BEN BOELMAN

Placentia