The Editor,
Re. "Candidates won’t attend church meeting" (The Tri-City News, Sept. 19).
I am writing to let you know that I and many others are deeply concerned and disappointed in the very biased and inaccurate attack that The Tri-City News has made on a wonderful church. A church that for many years has done nothing but show full-on, full-out support in a multitude of ways to the entire community of Coquitlam.
Notwithstanding is the very fact that they as a church were seeking to serve the Coquitlam community by hosting an all-candidates meeting. If the pastor were either hateful or bigoted, he would not have invited candidates to come to his church who clearly do not support or hold his personal beliefs. He is loving enough and diverse enough and accepting enough to have invited all views and all parties to come and present.
Your attempts to shame, defame and bully Pastor Gabeli are not only unfounded but they are disgraceful.
As a fellow leader in the region, who just last night hosted his third all-candidates meeting, I am calling for you to issue a full public apology to him and his church.
What is shameful is the fact that you have helped to aid those who have effectively dismantled this very vital event intended to serve the community in the federal election.
Kevin Cavanaugh, Lead Pastor, Cedar Grove Church, Surrey
