TRENT JACKSON, Richland

The recent events in Connecticut were devastating to a whole nation. I felt sick when I heard Westboro Baptist Church planned to picket the memorial service for these innocent souls and say this was an act of God because of Connecticut legalizing gay marriage.

As a Christian, I believe that God intended marriage to be between a man and a woman. But I know my beliefs give me no right to condemn others. I believe that every sin is equal in the eyes of God, and we have no right to consider ourselves better than someone else.

I would never call the murder of innocent children an act of God. God loved us enough to die for all of our sins. This is not a God of hatred. I ask you all to not judge Christians by the actions of Westboro. They are an extremist organization that claims to follow my God.

I'm sure we're all aware of what other extremists are capable of and fail to see the true religion these radicals claim to follow. Christians are a loving group of people who follow an even more loving and forgiving God. May God bless all affected in Newtown, Conn.