Starshine and the Pope

So Starshine needs to learn the history of the 2,000 year old Catholic church? How about the 5,000 year old Hindu or the 4,000 year old Judeo? These histories are irrelevant?

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution says: “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press.”

The United States does not recognize any religion. “No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.” (U.S. Constitution, Article VI, paragraph 3.)

1. Free speech and freedom of the press give Starshine the right to express herself freely.

2. Letter-writer Sharon Kelly copied Starshine by using her right to free speech and free press. My turn now.

3. I’m a senior citizen and a retired teacher of our Constitutional rights. The Catholic church is rigid and intolerant, definitely. The male-dominated church controls the reproductive rights of women.

I am an unsaved agnostic. –Dorothy F. McNeil, Goleta

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I, too, am a free thinker. However, I found Starshine Roshelle’s column rude and, more importantly, disrespectful. Her words cast a dark light on the rest of us and were an embarrassment. – Kay Cantor, Santa Barbara

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Although I am not a Catholic and possibly may be described as religiously in the nether regions, I find Ms. Starr’s comments beyond offensive. Why The Independent would allow such language is beyond me. – Claudia Gaustad, Santa Barbara