I could not let the ignorant and hateful remarks of Dale Taylor relating gay men to pedophiles go unchallenged ["The Bible tells me so," June 12].

Gay and lesbian people are just as appalled, if not more so, when it comes to abuse of children. As a gay man with two sons and two grandsons, I take great offense at these heinous, uneducated comments.

The Rev. Doug Norwood Hodges is my new clerical hero. He had the guts to put his name publicly on a discussion of the inspired Word of God.

There are many contradictions in the Bible, and I find it very hard to believe that the God I know and love and understand would be that confused!

The context of the writing, and understanding what the writers were capable of understanding at the time they were inspired to write the books of the Bible, put it all in perspective.

The good Lord gave us the ability to think, to have faith, and to know when to think and have faith. He also made each of us exactly as we are. And Jesus loves every one of us.

That and justice for all are just a few things I learned from the Bible. Not hate and ignorance.

Robert A. Martin

Spotsylvania