The editorial cartoon that appeared in The State News on Oct. 10 was appalling to me. The Christian crucifix is a sacred and traditional symbol of Christian believers. Bilicki’s desecration of that symbol to promote a political agenda is repugnant to me and many other fair-minded people. It is especially repugnant to those who believe in the Christian faith.

To have this symbol so desecrated by the editorial cartoon is a breach in good journalism and a dive into religious bigotry at its worst. It is my sincere hope that a public apology will appear in The State News for this breach in civil discourse about a public policy issue in the state of Michigan.

The State News is certainly entitled to express its opinion about this ballot proposal and surely has a responsibility to its readership to do that. However, to advocate a position by desecrating a sacred religious symbol of Christians and specifically of the Catholic Church is reprehensible and calls for an apology from the editor of The State News.

The Rev. Michael Murphy
moderator of the
Curia Diocese of Lansing