Letters: Oct. 24, 2005

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History is replete with alienated minorities that successfully assimilated and did not bomb innocent people. The angry Muslims in Europe seem to have forgotten the West's benevolence during humanitarian missions to the Muslim populations in Somalia, Bosnia and Indonesia. The West can no longer pursue appeasement. It must challenge the jihadist philosophy by using its own enduring and sacred values socially, politically and, if threatened, militarily.

SEAN LILLE

Scottsdale, Ariz.

Gays Need Not Apply

You reported that Pope Benedict XVI may reaffirm a ban on homosexuals entering the seminary [Oct. 3]. The Pope may be intent on a "thorough cleaning up of the priesthood." But given the Roman Catholic Church's history of sexual abuse of children by the clergy, why has it taken so long to act? Can it be that aberrant behavior is finally costing the church big money?

RICHARD KUSNIEREK

Orange Park, Fla.

What purpose is served by barring a celibate gay male from entering the seminary or the priesthood? Reaffirming a ban on gays from participating as Catholic priests would drive away some of the very few men willing to serve the church and live celibate lives.

NICOLE BOEHLER

Tübingen, Germany

Iran's New Man

Re your interview with Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad [Sept. 26]: In discussing the hostage crisis at the U.S. embassy in Tehran more than 25 years ago, he said, "Sometimes, in order to gain your rights, you have to do certain things." That sounds as if he would condone any type of behavior if it achieved political goals. But then, in answer to a question about Abu Mousab al-Zarqawi's call for violence against Shi'ites in Iraq, Ahmadinejad said, "Any decision that leads to the killing of innocents is something that we reject." Comparing Ahmadinejad's answer about rejecting the use of violence to his response rationalizing the necessity of doing "certain things" makes me wonder what Iran's new President truly believes.

STEVE BROWN

Johannesburg