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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Letters

Nun op-ed falls short

Regarding Judy Butler’s June 9 op-ed about American Catholic nuns being censured by the Vatican, I would like to make a quick point or two. Butler does a commendable job describing the many ways that nuns have contributed to the welfare of humankind. They most certainly have done that and deserve much praise and thanks.

However, what Butler fails to do is to list the reasons why the Vatican, after much deliberation, has decided to take the painful step of censuring the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. Had she informed The Spokesman-Review’s readership of the reasons for the censure, then they could better arrive at a more objective and unbiased conclusion regarding this issue.

As it stands, her article seems to be just another attempt to manufacture a contrived war on women.

John Pauley

Spokane Valley

Whatever happened to …

Whatever happened to:

1. Three strikes, you’re out? 2.Following one car length for every 10 miles per hour? 3. Using turn signals? 4.Obeying speed limits? 5. Courtesy on the road? 6. Getting married, then having babies? 7. Looking down on shacking up?

Dary Liepelt

Colbert

Speak up for civil rights

In response to “Religious liberty under assault,” June 9, from Donna Kuhn:

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Bonhoeffer was correct, therefore must I act.

Gay rights don’t impact religious liberties. You may refuse to allow gay people into your home without fear of reprisal. You may refuse to marry a gay person without penalty. You may deny gay people access to your church if your church holds it against their belief to include them.

What you may not do is deny gay persons the same civil rights that you enjoy because they’re gay. Neither their sexual orientation nor the matter of whom they commit their life to impacts your life. This is the only baseline for deciding rights issues.

The evil lies not in granting gay people equal status before the law, which is the foundation of American jurisprudence, but in denying them the same rights that others enjoy simply because they’re gay.

People don’t possess the legal right to enforce their religious prejudices on others, though they are free to voice their opinion if they so desire.

Joe Lang

Spokane

Thankful for unions

Webster’s defines collective bargaining as “negotiation between an employer and a labor union, usually on wages, hours and working conditions.” Is that really unfair? Would all employers give their employees fair wages, hours and working conditions? I don’t believe history has shown that. Employers should have to negotiate with employees!

Pension systems are created by legislatures, not unions.

In Washington, the Legislature creates pensions. In my pension, I put in my contribution, the city matched and the state put in nothing for many years! The threat of a lawsuit moved the state to finally put money into my pension. I read that is what has happened all around the country to pension systems. The states do not put any money into the pensions and cry poor!

Is that the employee or employer’s fault? Like most, when I retired, I was on my own for medical. No Social Security benefits. Two percent per year of service.

I hope that you have a great boss and your boss is fair. For me, I’m glad I have a union! All workers want is fairness when it comes to wages, hours and working conditions; is that really too much?

Douglas Bacon

Spokane