Knight Initiative

* The Rev. Alan Jones’ arguments against the Knight initiative are correct, as far as they go (Commentary, Nov. 10). But he and most others today fall into the same logic trap when discussing the issue of religious influence on our public laws. It is, simply, as unconstitutional for a church, or its representatives, to foist its religious-based beliefs on the secular public as it is for that public to limit in any way the right of the members of any religion to practice their faith in a manner of their own choosing.

The problem with today’s religious organizations is that they are so ineffective that they cannot hold onto their flocks, so they try to extend their beliefs by making them the law of the land. It’s wrong, constitutionally and morally. They would be better served if they would promote their most stellar parishioners as examples of how the practice of their faith enhances their lives, instead of attempting to build conformity to their beliefs by force.

BRUCE HART

Long Beach