Two Letters to Newsday

Newsday August 30, 2005
King knows not what he does

An interfaith delegation (of which I was one) asked Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) to oppose attempts to privatize Social Security. His reaction, which we read in Newsday, was to wail: "God forgive them, for they know not what they do," and to decry what he called "left-wing pseudo-theology" ["Faithful hope to sway King," News, Aug. 24]. The delegation had presented him with a copy of "A Commitment to All Generations: Social Security and the Common Good," a statement strongly opposing the privatizing of Social Security. It was issued by the administrative board of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Left-wing pseudo-theologians? I think not.

Nancy Dwyer
Valley Stream

Newsday September 4, 2005
King's hubrisis astonishing
Regarding "Faithful hope to sway King" [News, Aug. 24]: I continue to be astonished by the hubris displayed by Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford). His latest diatribe is directed against constituents who happen to disagree with him regarding the privatization of Social Security.King suggests that the religious leaders praying outside his Massapequa Park office need to be forgiven by God "for they know not what they do."He further states that his position is based on "facts, reason and informed social conscience," thus implying that the demonstrators lack such attributes. How presumptuous and insulting.
Janet Pucciarelli
Glen Head