Condemning homosexuality is not homophobic Re: "Anti-gay pamphlets appear on D.C. detectives' desks," July 13 Men and women with homosexual tendencies must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. However, it is also important to point out that it is not homophobic, as the Bible does, to condemn homosexual activity.

Dr. Francis Collins, who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work sequencing the human genetic code, has proven that homosexuality is not genetically "hard-wired."

Scientific studies also show a link between homosexuality and pedophilia. For example, a 1992 study in the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy found that homosexual men are three times more likely than straight men to engage in pedophilia. A 1988 study of 229 convicted child molesters published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior found that 86 percent of pedophiles described themselves as homosexual or bisexual.

Society must be taught to "love the sinner, but hate the sin."

Paul Kokoski
Hamilton, Ontario

Don't sell James' accomplishments short Re: "LeBron James is no Magic or Bird," July 12 Gregory Kane claims that LeBron James cannot be mentioned in the same class as Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan because "truly great players make their teams better."

Granted, Johnson, Bird and Jordan led their teams to numerous NBA championships, but evidence suggests that James did make the Cleveland Cavaliers a better team. In the seven full seasons (1997 to 2003) before the Cavaliers made James the No. 1 overall draft choice, they had 244 wins and 330 losses with two playoff appearances.

During James's seven seasons as a Cavalier, their record was 349 wins and 225 losses and five consecutive playoff appearances, including a trip to the NBA Finals in 2007. In the last two seasons, the Cavaliers won more games than any other team.

By Kane's own measure, James is a great player because he made his team better.

Craig Taylor
Alexandria

American health care is not better than British Re: "Want worse health care? Try British model," Editorial, July 1 Your editorial on British health care was absolutely absurd. American medicine is not "the best in the world." Infant mortality here is among the highest in the world, and a child died a year or two ago because his parents could not afford a dentist. As for "medical blunders," I know several people who are suing for wrongful deaths.

In Britain, Europe and Canada, people don't have to make a mad dash to the emergency room because they cannot afford coverage. Patients in U.S. hospitals are told to recover as quickly as possible because of the fear of infection. So much for the "huge success in improving patient care."

My father-in-law had very successful surgeries in London, and other friends and family have had proper attention. Most Europeans are appalled at the cost of care in America and the lack of coverage for all.

This editorial was purely based on politics and the erroneous assumption that health care for all creates socialism. Britain is not a socialist country, nor is the rest of Europe and Canada.

Elizabeth Cookson
Darnestown