Editor: Abbotsford Times, RE: letter of Gertie Pool

Ahhhh, Gertie Pool, ‘abbotsford christian’ extraordinaire. To genuinely see true Christian principle degraded one only need read your mean-spirited, cold-hearted and judgemental letter.

While I was aware that the ranks of the homeless were growing, since Abbotsford lacks enough true Christians such as Gene Klassen to help the unfortunate back onto their feet in keeping with the loving teachings of Jesus. I just had not realized that 62% (20 million as per Ms pool divided by the estimated total population of 32.5 million) of Canadians were now homeless or poor.

I was unable to find the rider cited by Ms Pool “take care of the poor, but not the greedy necessarily”. Perhaps Ms Pool would care to share where she found this rider in the bible? I also could not determine where she is looking when she sees “excellent social services, welfare system and dedicated child and welfare administration”. These do not exist for those who actually have to deal with them. Unfortunately the bulk of the giving that earned “most generous giving community” was to the churches who horde the money for fancy buildings, sending their children abroad for free travel – oops – I mean to help the homeless in foreign countries and for hiring more pastor to generate more “generous giving”.

I certainly agree that it is necessary to help the homeless overcome their problems. But that is a little hard to do if they are focused on finding the food and shelter needed to survive. I also must agree with the sentiment that the “command to feed the hungry encompasses a far broader area than filling the stomach only”. I just have not been able to devise how one would reach Ms Pool and her fellow ‘abbotsford christians’ in a manner that would permit one to inject a little Christian Charity and Principles into their souls. But as a matter of faith I am sure it can be done.