Mailbag: Interfaith leaders speak out on attack

As members of the Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council Board of Directors, we are appalled at the implied violence found in the graffiti attack on St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church in Irvine on Jan. 11.

A graffiti attack and the implied violence on one religion is an attack on all religions. The freedom of religion, the right to worship or not worship, is a right of all Americans, guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

We affirm our continued support of our Catholic brothers and sisters in Orange County in the Newport-Mesa-Irvine congregations and are especially sorry that such an event took place right here within our three-city community.

Rev. Julie Elkins

First United Methodist Church of Costa Mesa

Mr. Greg Kelley

Out Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church

Dr. Armand Mauss

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Irvine Stake

Rev. Karen Stoyanoff

Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church

Mr. Lane Calvert

Spiritual Assembly of the Bahai’s of Costa Mesa

Rabbi Marc Dworkin

American Jewish Committee

Mr. Ken Everson

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Newport Beach Stake

Mrs. Susan Munsell

Family Federation for World Peace

Rev. Holly Reinhart-Marean

Christ Church by the Sea

Victoria K. Dendinger, Ph.D.

Our Lady Queen of Angels Roman Catholic Church.

Mrs. Caroline Kline

University Park LDS Congregation

Rev. Lloyd H. Sellers

Associate Director of Pastoral Care at Hoag Hospital

Eman Bermani

Islamic Educational Center of Orange County

Rev. Bradley Stienstra

Newport Harbor Lutheran Church

Rev. David Stoner

First United Methodist Church of Costa Mesa

Mr. Jim de Boom

Executive Director, NMIIFC

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Writer reminisces about old times, former Pilot columnist

James “Jimmy” Trapp (Walter Trout’s bass player) and I were the best of friends as kids. We met on 45th street in Newport Beach in 1965, when I was 13 years old. We would body surf every day all-year round. As anyone who has raised boys knows we 13-year-olds could put away the food.

In 1966, we had the good fortune of meeting three beautiful sisters in — Tony, Jody and Terry Bell — somewhere around 30th street. They lived in an upstairs apartment where Jim and I were always treated like kings. They fed us after we got out of the water almost daily and let us play music on their HiFi. “Orange skies” by Love seemed to be played a lot there by the girls.

I can recall them telling us that their father was a well-known writer. I have enjoyed Joseph N. Bell’s Daily Pilot columns from a very fond perspective. Best of life to a great writer. Your excellent writing will be missed.

David Sloane

Costa Mesa