To the Editor:
Our Lord Jesus Christ especially blessed little children during His earthly ministry (Mark 10:13-16) and issued a vivid warning to those who would endanger the innocence of children (Matthew 18:5-6). Each child deserves the protection and care not only of his or her parents, but also of the community at large. It is simply wrong to expose children to sexually explicit themes. This fact is recognized in the Illinois law against obscenity, which makes special mention of obscenity aimed at children (720 ILCS 5/11-20 (c)).
Inviting a drag queen to perform for children is intended to introduce children to sexually explicit themes. In the words of the Illinois statute, it is "prurient." It is contrary to common sense, natural law, and all that is good and holy. Even a decade ago one would have struggled to find even a small minority in our communities who would disagree with those statements. Now our local libraries are using community funds and community space to do exactly this. Our communities deserve better from their public servants.
We strive to make our churches places of refuge from a world gone mad. We preach the love of God to all who will repent of their wrong-doing and come with open arms to receive the Lord’s grace. There can be no repenting of wrong-doing without acknowledging that it exists. As ministers of Christ it is our duty to say that the actions of the Collinsville and Glen Carbon libraries are wrong. We exhort all involved to repent of this wrong-doing. We encourage all Christians to beseech the Lord to give them repentance and faith.
Rev. Scott Adle - Associate Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Collinsville
Rev. Benjamin T. Ball - Senior Pastor, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Hamel
Rev. Heath R. Curtis - Pastor, Trinity & Zion Lutheran Churches, Worden & Carpenter
Rev. Brian Feicho - Pastor, Concordia Lutheran Church, Granite City
Rev. William Gleason - Emeritus, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Hamel
Rev. Aaron Mueller - Pastor, St. James Lutheran Church, Glen Carbon
Rev. Martin T. Schnare - Emeritus, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Hamel
Rev. John Shank - Senior Pastor, Trinity Lutheran Ministries, Edwardsville
Rev. William C. Weedon - Assistant Pastor, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Hamel
Rev. Kyle Wright II - Pastor, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Collinsville