DATE: Sunday, June 29, 1997                 TAG: 9706280014

SECTION: COMMENTARY              PAGE: J4   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letters 

                                            LENGTH:   97 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

PAT ROBERTSON

Evangelists can serve in many ways

I congratulate your newspaper on the June 22 article, ``Robertson's riches fuel debate over Christianity and wealth,'' which provided the reader with different points of view.

I take strong issue with the statement that wealth closes the door on evangelism, most specifically, the last quote of the article: ``Millionaires do not make good evangelists.''

How many people throughout the world have benefited via businessmen and professionals who have given food, clothing, shelter, scholarships, hospitals, research centers, etc., to help mankind? Would any rational person say this is the devil at work?

Theologian Stanley Hauerwas, who holds the Gilbert T. Rowe chair of theological ethics at the divinity school of Duke University, stated: ``The New Testatment's very clear. If you have a lot of money, you're in deep trouble.''

I doubt if James B. Duke did everything correctly, but Mr. Hauerwas is at Duke University because of the Duke family. And Duke Hospital, one of the finest hospitals in the world, is there because of the Duke family.

There are many ways to be an evangelist. I think some good folks on Earth should be more inclusive.

Richard T. Short

Virginia Beach, June 22, 1997

Hand of brotherhood is not forgotten

The last weekend before my family moved from Hampton Roads, I opened my Sunday paper to witness one more article questioning Pat Robertson's motives - this time, however, apparently questioning his spiritual integrity and maybe his eternal destiny.

As a Catholic clergyman who considers Pat Robertson a friend, I had to write. At a time when many said it was hard for evangelicals and Catholics to work together, Pat extended a hand of brotherhood through me to many Catholics. Pat and I do not (and probably will not in our lifetime) agree on some very important theological, political or cultural issues, but we have worked and prayed together. He is my friend.

Professor Hauerwas, and some others, were too quick to marginalize Robertson's uniqueness because they do not know the depth of the man. He may not have a monastic (or for that matter mendicant) tradition of poverty to remind him of the truth of gospel simplicity. But people forget that he has ``given it all away'' several times in his life. He will ``give it away'' again, for the gospel, which he loves so dearly, in a way unique to his call as a communicator, founder and entrepreneur.

Pat Robertson is a great asset not only to Hampton Roads but well beyond. It's time for some favorable reporting on this unique 20th century Christian leader.

The Rev. Keith A. Fournier

President

Catholic Alliance

Washington, D.C., June 23, 1997

ENVIRONMENT

No butts about it, smokers litter beaches

I would like to thank Robert Dean for his hard work and dedication as founder of Clean the Bay Day. This awareness campaign is a great idea but somehow is not being remembered by all the citizens of Chesapeake Beach, also known as Chick's Beach.

My wife and I were walking along the tide line five days after Clean the Bay Day. We counted 47 cigarette butts and one crumpled cigarette pack in only one short block. This did not include the other miscellaneous trash on the beach that was not in our immediate path.

It is appalling that smokers must flaunt their habit by trashing our environment. Don't they know that cigarette butts are not biodegradable and create a hazard to our wildlife?

If this bothers you, let the tobacco companies know that you are disgusted and demand they spend some of their profits on advertising the ramifications of littering.

To everyone else, let's remember that every day should be Clean the Bay Day.

Charles E. Hurd

Former vice president

Clean the Bay Day

Virginia Beach, June 20, 1997

JUSTICE

Death penalty fitting in the McVeigh case

I liked John Bradley's June 17 letter, ``Limit death penalty to guilt beyond doubt.'' However I don't feel it was wise to use the McVeigh case, or any case that he wasn't personality involved in.

We all know that in any trial, unless you are physically present you don't hear all the evidence presented. We get our information through the news media, which is written by individuals who tend to put personal feelings and observations in their reporting. Although our system may not be at its best all the time, I try to have faith in the people selected to sit on a jury.

I believe the McVeigh jury labored long and hard over the very difficult decision of the death penalty. I commend them for their decision, because this case probably deserves the death penalty more than any other I can think of.

Michael Stark

Police officer

Virginia Beach, June 17, 1997

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