As an Eastern Orthodox Christian, I take great umbrage with the statement by Alliance Defense Fund staff attorney Joshua Carden that Stephen Williams is an "orthodox Christian" and, that according to Carden, Williams is a "traditional Christian who follows the Bible."

In order to be an "orthodox Christian," one must accept the whole body of Holy Tradition, including the early Christian ecumenical creeds (e.g., The Nicene Creed), as taught by the Eastern Orthodox Christian Church from the time of the Apostles forward, of which the Holy Bible is but one part.

Williams is a Fundamentalist or Evangelical Christian, since he only accepts the Holy Bible as the basis of his faith.

Because of this, there is no way that Williams can be considered to be "orthodox," as all other Christians, from the perspective of the Eastern Orthodox Christian Church, are considered to be heterodox since they depart from the doctrine or dogma of the Eastern Orthodox Christian Church.

F. Vernon Hudnut

Cupertino

DeCinzo lost all logic
in tolerance cartoon

I was an avid admirer of DeCinzo's cartoons for years, but not after his despicable display of lost logic and decency in the Jan. 19 Courier. DeCinzo offered a satirical explanation of cultural tolerance--lots of it for Barry Bonds who can use drugs and lie about it, but none of it for the student who must be suspended for illegally possessing a pocket knife--extremely insulting to Bonds.

Thus far, no proof of illegal drug use by Bonds nor of his lying to authorities has been divulged. The student, on the other hand, admitted to his illegal possession of a pocket knife at a school function.

It's always heartening to see evidence of intelligent life in your Letters & Opinion section, but DeCinzo fails that test when he equates the suspicion of lying about the use of prescription drugs to the admission of knowingly having violated the law.

There is no moral equivalence between these two situations, and they are quite far apart on both the political and legal scales. DeCinzo again has proven that great intelligence, talent or fame has no relation to knowing right from wrong--or applying it.

Accordingly, I find DeCinzo's effort has rendered your January 19 edition totally useless--less than worthy of recycling or even lining the bird cage or wrapping the used kitty litter. I returned my copy to the carrier.

Gordon Frolich

Cupertino