Christians are amazed, I'm sure, that the ACLU would actually take up the defense of a Christian minister who called on God to bring retribution on a judge who handled his case. (Wire Report, 7A, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008)

The Unger Bible Dictionary tells us that "Many instances are recorded of cursing in the scripture...." Starting with God's cursing the serpent. (Gen. 3:14). There are curses described in the Old Testament by certain holy men against individuals, but "are not the expressions of revenge..."

Obviously, the minister "Pinkney" had broken the law by paying people to vote, and therefore subject to a penalty, but one wonders if there is really a law against cursing. Can he really be imprisoned for cursing? If this is true, then the originator of the law must believe also that a curse will have damaging effect, and the judge will have to act on that premise. On the other hand, in defense of Christian teaching, we don't go around cursing people, but rather saying a prayer for those who curse us.

Al Clemens, Springfield