This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Did you hear about the Mormon bishop in Taylorsville who disguised himself as a homeless man to gauge the compassion of his ward members? The result was shameful ("Mormon bishop goes 'homeless' to teach lesson of compassion," Tribune, Dec. 1).
At least five people asked him to leave and many ignored him and wouldn't make eye contact, although he wasn't asking for anything, just wishing people a happy Thanksgiving. And these fools think they'd recognize Jesus if He returned?
Bishop David Musselman said "their inability to even acknowledge me ... was very surprising." Surprising?
Bishop Musselman, you live in a ward, a city and a state that seems to take great pride in making the lives of poor people miserable.
For decades Republicans have worked to get rid of programs they sneeringly refer to as "entitlements" such as Medicare, Medicaid and food stamps, just to name a few, and Utahns overwhelmingly agree, and then vote for them.
Maybe it's time to take a second look at what "conservative values" really means.
Gov. Gary Herbert would rather form a million fact-finding committees than make just one humane decision — to extend Medicaid to thousands of uninsured poor people in Utah. Christian compassion indeed.
Susan Christensen
Salt Lake City