In an email from Jose Ventilacion to bereans@edsamail.com.ph and forwarded to me late August 28 or early 29, Jose wrote this:
"Mr. Kelly was given ample time to send his challenge. After my initial letter, it took him almost three months to respond, a waste of precious time. Secondly, he wants a written debate and presented other conditions which necessitated us to turn down his challenge (for lack of merit). Then, I left the US before he send his other proposals."
Here is my response requested by bereans@edsamail.com.ph:
Concerning the "three months" it took me to respond, even if it were so, so what? This is Jose's smoke screen; his red herring. However, it was not three months, for I was waiting for Jose's proposal which I received near the end of March. That proposal was unacceptable and I stated why in my letter of April 2, 2002. Is that three months? Jose wrote me back in a letter dated April 12, 2002. Is that three months? On June 6, 2002, Jose received a debate proposal from me authored by Lanning Courtney. Is that three months? Nonetheless, even if it were three months, so what? Have the issues changed? Has Jose changed his position?
Jose said, "... he wants a written debate ..." Lanning Courtney's proposition was not for a written debate. (Remember, Jose has now received a plurality of propositions from Mr. Courtney.)
Jose continued, "... and presented other conditions which necessitated us to turn down his challenge (for lack of merit)." "Lack of merit"? Meaning what? What were the other conditions? I turned down Jose's proposal and gave specific, not nebulous, reasons. If Jose had a problem with the rules or format of the debate then he should have told me. The details of a debate cannot be worked out if Jose is not willing to engage in dialogue.
Jose appears confused. The first proposal he received from me was for oral debate, not written. He stated, "... he wants a written debate ..." then stated "... I left the US before he send his other proposals." What other proposals? I authored a proposal for written exchange to Jose and mailed it to the address of our March 16 meeting just this past Tuesday, August 27. I asked the recipients to hand the proposal to Jose. I also posted it to the internet just yesterday, August 28. If Jose is not in the US, then the only way he could know of my proposal for written exchange is for him to have gotten it from my web site or to have received it in some electronic format in some way.
I hear barking, but feel no teeth.
Patrick Kelly
August 29, 2002
(To hear more barking, read this "Correspondence Between The Bereans and an INC (1914) Minister" which was forwarded to me. See also http://www.thebereans.net/forum/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=228 or read the text thereof.)