To the editor:

Passage of Indiana Governor Pence’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) produced a hue and cry in opposition but anchored the point:  religious beliefs must be protected.

Classic agitprop was in full display across the land — including our Governor Inslee and Seattle Mayor Murray — calling for travel bans and public censure of RFRA. Following came the wave of major corporations, e.g. WalMart, Angie’s List, Starbucks and Apple, ready to champion protection of the gay agenda but not religious freedom of expression. Added to the melee was the pressure from Indiana businesses worrying that they would become the target of boycotts by bullies of tolerance. Bullying is bullying, including against religious believers.

Christian businesses have the right to refuse services if doing so violates their deeply held religious beliefs. Yes, true freedom can be uncomfortable and messy but it is far better than state-mandated and enforced actions and speech. Without observance of the Bill of Rights there can be no freedom.

It is high time to stand up against anti-religious bigots and hypocritical business moguls who have religion under siege. We don’t have to travel to Yemen, Syria or DPRNK to find religious persecution, we can look in our own community for the evidence. Remember, freedom of religion is sacred and it is the law.

JAMES M. OLSEN

Bainbridge Island