Letters to the Editors


[SP Times 1 January 1999]


Letters to the Editors


Sanctimonious views

The Times' Editorial Notebook by Robyn E. Blumner, When buses become
billboards (Dec. 22), reflects the height of hypocrisy. Blumner cites
the First Amendment to the Constitution for the proposition that
anonymous anti-Scientologists have the right to post religious hate
slogans on county-sponsored buses. She conveniently ignores that the
first provision of the First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion.
That amendment prohibits governmental agencies from taking an action
that could in any fashion establish or disestablish a particular
religion.

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority is sponsored by Pinellas County.
Any activity of the PSTA that would disfavor a religion would fly
directly in the teeth of the First Amendment.

If Robyn Blumner wants to argue that the PSTA is purely a commercial
outfit and therefore less restricted by the dictates of the religion
clauses of the First Amendment, then commercial standards apply. In that
case, PSTA is completely free to accept or reject any advertising --
whether commercial, political or ideological -- according to its own
standards of good taste.

In either event, the PSTA made a decision it was completely justified
and within its rights to make.

Blumner is certainly entitled to her opinion. However, it is ironic that
it appeared in the editorial column of the St. Petersburg Times, as if
expressing the Times' views.

The Times, as a matter of policy, will accept no advertising of any kind
from the Church of Scientology. For years, the church has attempted to
purchase advertising space for book advertisements, statements on social
issues, and even equal space to respond to Times articles. In every
instance, the Times has refused to accept advertisements.

Perhaps the Times could be forgiven its lack of constitutional acumen
were it not for its doublespeak on the issue of advertiser prerogative.
Its views can only be characterized as sanctimonious.

-- Mike Rinder, director, Church of Scientology International,
Los Angeles, Calif.

Background courtesy of Windy's Web Design



Back to Lisa McPherson page