Politicians' Roe v. Wade reactions, and learning about Pride

As a lifelong Christian, I found the responses of some politicians who support the recent Supreme Court abortion ruling inconsistent with their voting records. Many evoked Jesus and the Bible as the inspiration for their battle on this issue.

Jesus said to feed the hungry, but many of these same officials fight government assistance to the poor.

The Bible says turn your swords into plowshares, but they oppose common-sense gun laws while people go hungry. Jesus said to heal the sick, but they fought the Affordable Care Act and continue to fight efforts to provide health care to those in need.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph were refugees, and Jesus preached to welcome the stranger, but these politicians are opposed to immigration reform. Jesus commanded us to love our neighbor, but these leaders react with derision and vitriol to those with differing viewpoints, beliefs, lifestyles, or skin color. Shouldn’t little children being blessed mean supporting measures that will protect the future of their environment?

So now as these elected officials are thanking God for this court decision, perhaps they will see the light on these other issues that involve those who are living.

 — Mark Nocero, Smithtown

Pride lesson can be teaching opportunity

The editorial “Library learns a Pride lesson” [Opinion, June 27], while nicely summarizing Smithtown Library’s recent difficulties in addressing LGBTQ issues, did more: Its last sentence importantly encouraged communities to become educated on the subject.

When that board rescinded its original resolution banning Pride books from children’s sections, trustees expressed a desire to be educated on the subject. There is, I believe, a special opportunity for that to occur with the involvement of LGBTQ nonprofits and other groups.

Isn’t that preferable to just throwing up one’s hands and muttering that “they” are underinformed and just won’t listen to reason?

 — Steve Bard, Hauppauge