You Don't Mess Around With The Duke!

First, there were a series of two anti-gay letters in the SN-L written by Duke McDonald, an assistant city attorney for "The City" of Springfield.

Here is one of Duke's letter:

Homosexuality is sin. God looked upon Sodom and Gomorrah as "so grievous" that he punished them horribly. Genesis chapter 19. It's not just an Old Testament anachronism. Sodom and Gomorrah "are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." Jude 7.

When a society embraces homosexuality, that is an index for where it's going -- down. On the descent, you can expect every form of wickedness, evil, and depravity. Romans 1:18 et. seq. Why? Because when we insist on converting sin into a civil right, it becomes original sin. We are the clay saying to the Potter, "Thanks very much, but we will decide what shape we take."

Then a letter suggesting it was inappropriate for an employee of Springfield, MO to have written such letters was published in the SN-L under the heading of "Lawyer working for city should be fired for anti-gay letters". (A clarification appeared on the voices page the next day telling us Duke is an assistant city attorney.)

These three letters have generated a lot of discussion: Roger Ray has a column on them here and there is a discussion going on here.

Duke counters with this short letter in this morning's SN-L:

Let free speech live. Let me exercise a little more: homosexuality is sin, as is adultery, as is fornication. To any that bristle at that, I commend you to 1 Corinthians 13:6. Mr. Gross, to you and to any willing soul, I commend Psalm 34:8.

In case you refuse the carrot, here's the stick: be very careful about tortious interference with my employment. Speak as you wish; name call as you wish, but be very careful about that. Also, see Luke 12:5.

Duke McDonald, Springfield

I have no personal knowledge of Duke's effectiveness as an attorney. "The City" attorney's website states Mr. McDonald has served as the in house legal counsel for the Springfield-Branson Regional Airport since September 26, 2005.

The minutes of the November, 2007 Airport Board reflect this:

Introduction of City Attorney III, Sarah Kerner, as the replacement for Duke McDonald who is moving from the Airport to the City of Springfield Law Department.

Duke wrote an article for the Missouri Bar Association Journal in the July/August 2007 issue. The title: The Ten Worst Faults In Drafting Contracts. The introduction is interesting.

Local bloggers Jason and Gregory Holman give their opinions on the matter.