Dear Editor, The Daily Star:

I am responding to Pastor Steensma's June 12 letter opposing gay marriage. While I do not claim to be an expert on the Bible, I can, however, recognize religous doublespeak. Pastor Steensma states there are no guidelines for gay unions in "God's revealed word." That may be true but there are certainly other "guidelines" providing direction in our lives as follows:

1. Exodus 2:17 legitimizes selling one's daughter into slavery. What is the going rate for a man's daughter these days?

2. Leviticus 25:44 says I have a right to buy slaves from other nations. I think the Canadians and the Mexicans would disagree.

3. Exodus 35:2 says if I work on the Sabbath Day I should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill myself? Am I obligated to kill my neighbors and friends who work on the Sabbath Day?

Leviticus 20:9 says everyone who curses their mother and father should surely be put to death. I am a bit ashamed to admit this but I would have been dead back in high school.

Leviticus 20:10 states all adulterers should surely be put to death. I better call Police Chief Donadio and have him arrest all the adulterers so we can fulfill "God's revealed word."

These are just a few examples of "God's revealed word" giving us direction on how to live our lives and to judge others. If one truly believes that the Bible is "God's revealed word" then one certainly should have no disagreement with the cited passages. If one believes that the Bible says homosexuality is a sin then one must inherently believe in the validity of these passages even in our modern time.

Religous doublespeak - did I mention that phrase in the beginning of my letter?