Church wrong on birth control

So the Catholic Health Association “does not believe church affiliated employers should have to provide birth control as a free preventive service,” and the compromise plan offered by the president would not “adequately meet the religious liberty concerns of all its members.”

I agree with Joe Lang in his letter to the editor in the June 15 paper when he said, “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.” So the question is, “What right does the Catholic Church have to force their religious belief regarding birth control onto their employees?”

Surely they employ people from many different cultural and religious backgrounds and not just Catholics. It’s one thing to teach the congregants of one’s church that birth control is wrong, and quite another thing to deny a large diverse population of employees the right to access reproductive services. I would just add that church-affiliated employers (or any employer for that matter) should not possess the right to force their religious beliefs or practices onto their employees.

Diane Belyea

Spokane

Michelle not a Christian

I’m responding to the article in the June 18 paper regarding Michelle Obama’s speech to the graduates at Corvallis, Ore. She said graduates need to live life for themselves not for anyone else! I am totally astounded. This is the first lady? You can tell she is not a Christian.

A Christian lives life for others. That’s why we make the sign of the cross; to cross off ourselves and serve others. I thought the president and first lady were in office to serve us, not to serve themselves! Now we know they live to serve themselves.

All graduates need to remember is it is more blessed to give than receive, and happiness is found in serving others, not yourself!

Mary Heinen

Nine Mile Falls

Turn up the Street Music

It’s been lively in downtown Spokane courtesy of Spokane Street Music Week. There’s hardly a better way to add to an already dynamic environment than having musicians share their talent on every street corner. Thank you, Doug Clark, for organizing the festivities and thank you to all the performers who took the time to participate.

Mike Tedesco

Spokane

MAC board must explain firing

At its May meeting, the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture board made clear to MAC supporters in attendance that recent leadership changes were none of our business. One board member proclaimed the community’s concern was about as inappropriate as us weighing in with football team owners on their firing of a coach. The problematic firing of the museum director foreshadowed a larger problem: The MAC board’s profession that they are accountable to no one.

At the June board meeting, MAC supporters were excluded for two hours while the board conducted a closed session. When we were finally allowed to participate, the shrill defensiveness of the board seen at the prior meeting was at least reduced. Nonetheless, they seem to have no idea how to bring back into the fold community supporters that they so desperately need given reductions in state funding.

The MAC board must reach out to the community and explain their vision for the museum, e.g., public forums. Likewise, we immediately need more community involvement at the MAC, e.g., volunteering or attending the next board meeting (noon, July 3). If you haven’t visited the MAC recently, go and discover why we are so passionate about our museum.

David Snowdon

Spokane