Why pick on pastor?

PASTOR Sam McWayne of the Harmony Centre and a member of the National Interfaith Council should have refrained from using social media, that, most unfortunately, made your front-page headlines recently. Freedom of expression in church or at one’s home is okay but a no-no on Facebook.

Methinks it was disingenuous to use a Muslim reporter to cause a religious divide among Hindus and Christians. I didn’t see this article in other newspapers.

Pastor McWayne’s actions may be over-zealous, irresponsible, naive and immature but definitely not gloating. That he apologised and said it was not his intention to cause harm must be accepted in good faith. Let’s build bridges, not burn them.

Your other front-page article on the alleged terror suspects received far less coverage. Why? So was the report on Pakistani Asif Mohammed charged with conspiracy to kidnap children.

As a Christian growing up with majority Hindu relatives, we live harmoniously. My parents allowed my siblings to marry Hindus and a Muslim.

We therefore have a family that speaks the four main Hindu languages. My siblings are free to worship whom they choose; so, too, are their spouses.

My closest friend is a Hindi-speaking Hindu and he has been there for me through many a storm when Christian friends, including pastors and certain Christian families, turned their backs on me. Many “Sunday Christians” are found during the entire week.

Important lesson, Jesus taught us to love our neighbour as ourselves, the definition of neighbour being not just Christians but Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Jews and the rest. We all need to read or reread the story of the Good Samaritan and practise it. ROBIN NAIDOO Phoenix