Paper's bias shows in ads promoting religion

I found Hobby Lobby's full-page ads in the Daily Herald and the Chicago Tribune attempting to associate equally their singular religious views "Blessed is a nation whose God is Lord" with "The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave" more than a little disturbing.

In which business does Hobby Lobby hold a business license? On the one hand, Hobby Lobby takes out a full-page ad to sell craft products. On the other hand Hobby Lobby takes out a full-page ad to sell religion. If Hobby Lobby is going to sell religion instead of crafts it should publish its religious sales in a periodical that it publishes and pays for itself.

The more disturbing question is why the Daily Herald and the Chicago Tribune, major suburban and metropolitan Chicago newspapers, are accepting advertising from large business entities that promote singular religious views to the exclusion and omission of all others.

The Daily Herald's bias is clearly showing. The very motto of your paper printed daily at the top of your opinion page is "To fear God, tell the truth and make money" attributed to H.C. Paddock. What does your God have to do with unbiased news? If you intend to be a religious newspaper, then be honest with the public and say so.

Christian contributors to this space seem not to mind this bias when it benefits them. I question how the public can trust that your news is not biased when you routinely promote specific religious views to the exclusion of all others.

Let me reiterate as I have more than once that the Daily Herald has made public claims that it promotes diversity. Routinely publishing full-page ads that promote singular religious views belies that public stance.

As for Hobby Lobby, let me also reiterate the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution: "Congress shall make no law regarding an establishment of religion."

John F. Page

Libertyville