Gay rights nationwide

I share with Lesli Weber (“Kudos to Gregoire,” Jan. 28) her pride that Washington has joined the ranks of enlightened states that grant marriage equality rights to our gay citizens.

My happiness is tempered, however, by a few concerns: 1) Gregoire waited until her last year in office to propose this measure, and cannot therefore be regarded as overly courageous; 2) In a living, breathing violation of the principle of the separation of church and state, she asked her priest for permission to initiate a process that truly is a moral one; 3) And, above all, this measure will merely perpetuate the patchwork quilt nature of gay rights across the country.

A better solution is a constitutional amendment granting gays equality nationwide, as with women’s voting rights and civil rights legislation for blacks.

The only political party pursuing this issue is the National Atheist Party. See our proposals at www.usanap.org.

James R. Hills

Spokane

Really need med van

This is in regard to the cancellation of Northwest Med Van. I am upset. I not only speak for myself but probably for many. I am an elderly widow who used the Northwest Med Van for medical purposes. I have used this transportation service for over six years. It has been my only way to my medical appointments. I found it convenient, and the drivers friendly and helpful. I will miss them all.

I don’t think some realize how important it is to have medical transportation that is affordable. You have people who are elderly, disabled and don’t have families or friends available to take them to their appointments. In addition, people can’t afford other transportation services because they are too expensive, or they don’t qualify.

This was the one service that transported people who didn’t qualify, or who couldn’t afford other medical transportation. You keep hearing that hospitals are adding on different types of new wings to their facility for medical needs, which is good. You would think that this would be part of the budget plan for years to come. It makes you wonder what you or a loved one might need in the near future.

Joanne Austin

Spokane

An affront to Sacred Heart

I am not and have never been of the Catholic faith. I am a retired gastroenterologist who practiced medicine in Spokane for 22 years, and served a year as medical staff president at Sacred Heart Medical Center.

At no time did Catholic ethical standards of SHMC interfere with my ability to care for patients. On the contrary, I was most fortunate that Sister Peter Claver provided a state-of-the-art medical facility that ran well under Catholic ethical values that were enforced.

A recent decision by the Obama administration places a significant financial burden upon institutions like SHMC if they do not abrogate longstanding, well-established ethical principles held sacred by the Catholic Church.

That decision is a needless, unwarranted affront upon an institution that has served our community well for many years, and upon people of our community served well by that institution.

Gene Grossmann

Spokane