Quotation Marks

Remarks on a gunman’s spiritual angst, unceasing Katrina care, and other subjects.

“Why didn’t any changes occur or any love or help come when I accepted you as Lord and saviour?”Matthew Murray, in a letter addressed to God found in his car after his December shootings at a Youth with a Mission Center and New Life Church in Colorado. (Source: KMGH)

“There still isn’t any Katrina fatigue. I keep hearing that those who come down go back and bring back more people.”Kimberly Durow, director of the Greater New Orleans Disaster Recovery Partnership, on the thousands of volunteers still pouring into the city, especially during school break periods. (Source: Times-Picayune)

“Heaven has secure borders, too.”Mark Powell, a Disciples of Christ minister warning Indiana lawmakers that supporting a bill that would punish businesses for hiring illegal immigrants would endanger their salvation. (Source: The Indianapolis Star)

“This is not an Initiative about money. This is an Initiative about problem-solving. Problems don’t get solved by spending more money.”Jay Hein, director of the White House Office of Faith-Based Initiatives, responding to criticism that because of reduced social spending, religious organizations have competed for “a larger slice of a smaller pie.” (Source: The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy)

“In Italy, he spoke in emotional terms, rather than in terms of faith. He is still on his way to Christianity. If he arrives, we will welcome him.”A spokesman for Alexey II, Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, after Mikhail Gorbachev knelt at Francis of Assisi’s tomb, saying, “through St Francis I arrived at the church.” Gorbachev later said he was still an atheist. (Source: The Guardian)

Related Elsewhere:

Earlier Quotation Marks columns are available from the April 2008, March 2008, February 2008, January 2008, December 2007, November 2007, October 2007, September 2007, August 2007, July 2007, June 2007, May 2007, April 2007, and earlier issues of Christianity Today.

Paul Kengor earlier wrote about Gorbachev’s remarks.

- More from Ted Olsen

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The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.