This is in response to two articles in the Sun Journal on April 26. One was a letter to the editor from Mark Beaudoin and the other was a guest column written by Daniel Pearson, a pastor at the First Baptist Church of Rumford. They both wrote in response to Sen. David Burns’ withdrawal of LD 1340, the religious freedom restoration bill.

Pearson wrote questioning, “Should a Muslim or an Orthodox Jew be required to sell pork or ham in their store?”

My response to that question is also a question: When an individual opens a public business, should they post a sign that states who they discriminate against? Before I make a purchase at a store, should I request from the owner what his religious beliefs are and if all his employees are like-minded?

Pearson wrote that it is the right of the shop owner to protect his religious beliefs by refusing to serve those who don’t agree with his religious beliefs and that the refusal is protected by the U.S. Constitution.

That is not what the Constitution says or protects.

Many people are very vocal about and against same-sex marriage. I often wonder if they are grandparents of children who were born to parents who have not benefited from ” traditional marriage.”

Perhaps Pastor Pearson should spend some time reading the book Ecclesiastes in his Bible.

Norman Smith, Poland