The real Thomas More

I was taught that Thomas More was a Catholic saint. However, he eagerly caught and burned heretics who brought English translations of the Bible to England. He absolved the Catholic Church by saying that it only excommunicated heretics while he, the state, cruelly tortured and executed them.

“A Man for All Seasons” is a great movie, but it is only a movie. In the U.S., state officials don’t perform “sacraments.” Churches do that. Christine Flowers needs to do a thimble-full of research before writing a column (Sept. 12) that misses the point entirely.

Fortunately, we do not have a theocracy or divine right monarchy, but a democratic republic founded on a civil Constitution that respects religious freedom. However, Americans are not subjected to Shariah or ecclesiastical laws.

Marriage licenses are civil contracts issued by the states to two people. Gay and lesbian couples are people, not farm animals. Thus, they are eligible to get marriage licenses. The logic and humanity of this argument is crystal clear and unassailable.

No religious institution will be forced to “sanctify” anybody’s marriage. Thomas More and Kim Davis illustrate the dangers of allowing religious beliefs to invade civil law.

David Webb

Spokane