Those of us who embrace an inclusive, care-for-the-downtrodden Christian faith are accustomed to being admonished for our manifold sins and wickedness by our brethren on the Christian Right. After the 9-11 terrorist attack, the Rev. Jerry Falwell blamed feminists, gays, lesbians, the ACLU, People for the American Way and unspecified “others” for creating an environment “which possibly has caused God to lift the veil of protection which has allowed no one to attack America on our soil since 1812.”

When Hurricane Katrina savaged New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, pious voices of the right pronounced this was God’s punishment for the sinful ways of the populace. (Inexplicably, God’s wrath did not seem to include the millions who had visited New Orleans for a few days of decadent abandon and then returned to their proper homes elsewhere.)

Now, in the closing days of this presidential campaign, we have been hearing cries of “Terrorist!” and “Off with his head” from some people of faith who seem to believe the Democratic candidate’s name alone is reason to suspect him as a patriotic American and the professing Christian he is.

Have they not noticed that great economic misery has been visited like a plague upon our land, seeping into every single home, causing wailing over lost income and gnashing of teeth at disappearing retirement dreams? Might this be God’s judgment on all of us for inflicting eight years of the Bush administration on a suffering world? Or is it simply his way of making sure that Barack Obama will be elected our next president on Nov. 4?

Patricia Griffith

Belfast