Fresno Pacific University president is a believer, not a bigot
Norman La Joie (letter Sept. 29) seems to have a personal issue with Fresno Pacific University president Dr. Richard Kriegbaum. He begins his diatribe by calling him a, “big wheel,” which may be his perception of anyone in a position of responsibility. This might also be a reflection of his distance from such a position.
He goes on to call Dr. Kriegbaum a bigot for stating FPU’s long-standing position on marriage. Is Dr. Kriegbaum and/or FPU intolerant and prejudiced because he believes in traditional marriage, as the scriptures teach? Intolerance would have been if he and FPU had released a statement condemning gay marriage as being immoral. I missed that! Stating one’s beliefs, which are personal and shared by a community, however, is not intolerance, but rather religious freedom.
Anyone seeking employment at FPU is required to know its theological position on marriage (among other things), and is responsible to respect and abide by those beliefs. To have a belief system is not an indication of intolerance or bigotry, but to deny others that same right is.
Rodney J. Nidever, Fresno
This story was originally published October 1, 2015 at 7:41 AM with the headline "Fresno Pacific University president is a believer, not a bigot."