November 26, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Traveling evangelists

Enough! Even assuming that organized religions have a basis of truth and accuracy, the coverage of an evangelist the past few days has violated the principles of objective reporting and editing.

Imagine the BDN becoming a public relations shill for an activity, in view of today’s events, which deserves coverage only on a weekly religion page or tucked by the truss ads.

I thought wasting space on basketball was ridiculous. This is absurd. When those books and tapes come out in the name of religion, and money changes hands, it’s a red flag. This is only a “story” to be investigated or ignored, not promoted or celebrated. Roger Keim Bangor

I think you have sufficiently covered the story of the traveling evangelist canvassing the state. In fact, it is bordering on overkill.

I personally believe everyone has a right to choose his or her own religion, and my complaint is not with this particular group. My complaint is with your coverage of it. It has been excessive. This man is not from Maine, he is not a citizen of any local community. He has never done one good thing for the people of this area. This is his job, he is making money at this. Yet he receives all this wonderful press. This is not news, it’s advertising.

What about all the other religions here which day in and day out perform acts of service to this community? I have never seen you put any of them on the front page, or give them a full center spread. It looks like bias on your part. Michelle Thomas Bangor

I read with surprise the story, “Evangelists describe New England as a challenge” (BDN, April 8), which began with the description of evangelist Christian Harfouche as having, among other things, “circled the globe performing miracles.” One would think information of this sort would be a front-page, world-wide, prime-time sensation. We haven’t heard of such a thing for about 2,000 years. And to think our own Bangor Daily News staff member, Jenna Russell, broke the story. Just can’t wait for the film at 11. Tedford Peterson Orland


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