PASTOR CORRECT TO WITHHOLD NAME

This letter is being written because I would like you all (the Hattiesburg
American, as well as the general public) to know that I support pastor
Fairley wholeheartedly.

In the Catholic church the priest attends his parishioners in the
confessional, and this is considered sacred and he does not have to divulge
the conversation, even if it is unlawful. In the Baptist church the pastor
attends his parishioners in his office.

The sanctity of his office is the same as the confessional the priest
counsels in.

Just like the psychologist or psychiatrist, the church has a responsibility
to uphold the confidentiality of the people being counseled. If
people/parishioners feel that you are not trustworthy or that their
conversations will be repeated, you will lose not only the confidence
placed in you, you will also lose all credibility - as pastor Fairley
stated on WDAM-TV.

I have never been more proud of pastor Fairley as I was seeing him standing
up as usual for other people and what he believes in.

Maxine B. Coleman

Hattiesburg