No outrage?

I attended the immigration meeting mentioned in your Oct. 27 cover story ("States' rights"). I listened for hours but heard no outrage from anyone in the Hispanic community toward illegal immigrants, who line-jump those who wait years for legal status. Many legal Hispanics are afraid of being racially profiled in the crackdowns on illegal immigration, yet they said nothing to distance themselves from those responsible for it. -Joanne Spence; Woodbridge, Va.

Rumbling over Romney

I am disappointed that some evangelical Christian leaders seem to be jumping on the Mitt Romney endorsement bandwagon ("Right man, wrong religion?" Oct. 27). Mike Huckabee seems the obvious choice for conservative Christians. Unless these Christian leaders see Romney as more in line with their values and beliefs, it would seem that they are sacrificing their integrity on the altar of political expediency. -Brian Rohland; Bloomer, Wis.

Those voters who adamantly oppose the nomination of Romney because of his Mormon beliefs should be asked: Would you only vote for a nominee who is a born-again Christian? We are not voting for a theologian, but for a future president who embraces conservative values. -Jacob Johnson; Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Robert Taylor of Bob Jones University commented, "We're electing a president, not a pastor." True, but the Christian voter should seek more than a pro-life position. We should seek a man with a historic Christian worldview such as Luther and the Reformers had ("Luther vs. Lenin," Oct. 27). The cultural outcomes of worldviews are enormous. -David Massee; Germantown, Tenn.

"Right man, wrong religion" was well done, but I take exception to the assertion that Gov. Romney once supported abortion and same-sex marriage. Having worked with the governor on both issues, I agree (and rejoice) that he changed his position on abortion while in office. However, he has never supported same-sex marriage and has always been an outspoken champion of natural marriage. The confusion comes from his 1994 Senate campaign against Ted Kennedy when he advocated equal rights for gay people, but that never included changing the definition of marriage. Most Massachusetts citizens appreciate his efforts to get a marriage amendment on the ballot. -Kris Mineau, President, Massachusetts Family Institute; Woburn, Mass.

As a Michigan resident I have been aware of the Romney political legacy for almost 50 years. Never in Gov. George Romney's terms were there any issues with his Mormonism. He was a decent man with impeccable character and a proven record in industry management. I have difficulty understanding the Romney phobia. -Trudy Block; Grand Rapids, Mich.

James Dobson and those other old white guys should not ruin the United States by standing on their principles against Giuliani and letting the Democrats win ("A shot across the bow," Oct. 13). I like Giuliani to make the tough decisions on a national and international level. Huckabee can be vice president. -Janet Hammerquist; Fruitland, Idaho

Where's our money going?

Joel Belz's column about missions-related giving in American churches ("Our 2 cents' worth," Oct. 27) is provocative. Where is our money going, if not to world missions? By and large, we are self-serving in our spending. We would much rather build a bigger worship facility, fund another program, or purchase better music equipment than put 10 percent of our dollars in the hands of people on the front lines of evangelism in dark corners of the world. We should be ashamed of ourselves. -Corban A. Klug; Charlottesville, Va.

Our independent Bible church gives about a quarter of every dollar to missions. Beyond that, many Christians contribute to missions directly. Is there much room for improvement? Undoubtedly. But any study that does not take into account the enormous amounts of money churches and individuals give to nondenominational mission organizations is misleading at best. -Gladys Clarke; Colts Neck, N.J.

I gave for many years to my denominational missions fund, but I have totally changed my view on foreign missions. Right now I am supporting three missionaries in India, China, and Siberia, and three children, in children's homes in India and Nepal, for $210 a month. How many days would $210 support an American missionary family in another land? -David E. Brown; Elyria, Ohio

Insightful deliberation

I greatly appreciated Bruce Ledewitz's insightful statements on American religious democracy ("Faith-based voters," Oct. 27). Thanks, WORLD, for printing this kind of philosophical deliberation. -Maynard Eyestone; Shoreline, Wash.

You quote Ledewitz referring to President Bush's "veto of federal funding of stem-cell research." The president does not oppose all stem-cell research; he opposes only embryonic stem-cell research. Of course, his political enemies, aided by many in the media, want people to think otherwise. -Robert W. Eckardt; Quarryville, Pa.

Divine vs. destructive

Thank you for an excellent issue. Atlas Shrugged is also, for me, an influential text ("The hole in her universe," Oct. 27). I am awed by Rand's amazingly accurate depiction of socialism's devastating effects on a once-free market. "Luther vs. Lenin" (Oct. 27) brought out Luther's opposition to the destructive realities of communism; Rand confronts us with compelling economic truths. Wrestling with Lenin and Marx helps us see of what base material fallen man is made. But only Luther's focus on Christ alone can give us a divine framework where we can place human wisdom into its proper place. -Brenda Griffith; Vista, Calif.

I grew up in a godless home where God's name was not allowed and personal autonomy was worshipped. So when I read Ayn Rand's strong gospel-"Be the captain of your own destiny"-at age 19, I just ate it up. Atlas Shrugged, plus The Fountainhead, strengthened my agnostic position so that I resisted God's Holy Spirit until I was 32 years old. Upon reflection, I found that her work had a very destructive effect in my life. -Dick Robinson; Roswell, Ga.

Bad to worse?

I'm a junior in high school. The thought of Phil Mitchell being fired from the University of Colorado for his beliefs ("Campus cleansing," Oct. 27) in 2007 is bad enough; with the upcoming election I believe it will only be worse for those of us who want to be standing for Christ six years from now. -Jared Stevens; Parkersburg, W.Va.

God of Abraham?

Cal Thomas ("The same God?" Oct. 27) says that Christians and Muslims do not worship the same God because Muslims deny the divinity of Jesus. But would Thomas also argue that our Jewish brothers and sisters, who also reject the Trinity, do not worship the God of Abraham? -Michael Walter; Auburn, Ind.

Hijacked

The Nobel Peace Prize selection committee has been hijacked by left-wing extremists who have disregarded the original intent of the benefactor. This year's winner, Al Gore, awarded for his documentary, An Inconvenient Truth (Quotables, Oct. 27), is just another example. -Jared Harold; Naples, Fla.

Such a time as this

When will we realize that applying a secular solution to a religious problem will never work ("Mission: Impossible?" Oct. 13)? I have grown accustomed to this level of naïveté from our European leaders, even the much-loved Tony Blair, but I believed that President Bush, and certainly the very smart and well-informed Condi Rice, would be aware of the true situation. Islam divides the entire world into regions under and those not under Islamic law. We should have figured this out, given your 9/11 and our 7/7 attacks. When will we in the West learn that the only solution to the Israel/Palestinian issue Islam will accept is the extinguishing of Israel? I despair for our poorly advised politicians, and even more so for poor Israel. -Stephen Wright; London, United Kingdom