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PrintThe PG turns a success against terror into a Bush attack
Congratulations on reaching a new low. Hard-working security agencies both in the United States and Britain just prevented a major catastrophe. They saved a countless number of lives. They dealt a major defeat to terrorism.
So what does the Post-Gazette choose to do in an editorial last Sunday? Does it say thank you to all the people -- including our soldiers -- who devote their lives to stopping these terrorist maniacs? Of course not. Instead the PG used it as an opportunity to bash George W. Bush, even going as far as to somehow link the failed attacks with the tired liberal spin of "tax cuts for the rich" ("What We Know: A Deadly Airline Plot and Failed Bush Policies," Aug. 13).
The Bush administration has already given its opponents plenty of ammo with which to attack, and there was no reason to spit in the faces of people who worked so hard to save our lives by turning their great success into a political issue. Your blind hatred of this president has turned "One of America's Great Newspapers" into a sick laughingstock. How deplorable.
TIM HANNAN
South Fayette
We are less safe
As a Londoner resident in Pittsburgh, I have naturally followed the media coverage of the latest foiled terrorist plot with great interest.
I was also back in my hometown last year when the bombings on the London transport system took place. There was little doubt in the minds of most British people that the policy of Tony Blair in going along with George W. Bush's ill-advised invasion of Iraq had only served to make such an attack more likely.
Now we see that the Republicans are already cynically exploiting the politics of fear over the latest security threat to save their political bacon in the midterm elections. I hope the majority of American voters are not swayed by these tactics but see the truth that we in the West are, if anything, less safe than before because of the rash adventurism of the current administration and its failed policies.
Surely it is time for a completely different approach toward the issue of terrorism and global conflict, because the hard-nosed militaristic method is clearly achieving nothing.
NICK EDWARDS
Squirrel Hill
A healing insight
Thank you, Rebecca Denova ("Apocalyptic Panic, Apocalyptic Joy," Aug. 13 Forum). We have heard for years about the Book of Revelation, and I appreciated her insight into the book and finally a historical and rational perspective on this overrated book in the Bible.
As she stated, we no longer live in the Roman Empire. Perhaps then, the Book of Revelation is not our destiny. I too believe the answers are within us.
There are many lessons in the Bible before the Book of Revelation. Her article was healing for me, and I have mentioned it to many people since reading it. A recent pastor spent many Sundays warning us of the end times. To me, it was depressing to think and live as if it were prophecy.
There can be complete joy as we work together to heal humankind. So many of us go to worship on Sunday morning to get the answers to our problems. It takes more than an hour on Sunday to fix them.
We need to connect to people daily and perhaps our connection on a daily basis will "fix" our problems. After reading her commentary, perhaps as Dr. Denova states, many will stop waiting for God to "fix it for us."
DONNA C. DURANT
McKeesport
Hear her message
Thank you to Rebecca Denova for her most informative article, and thank you to the editorial staff for publishing a scholarly, common sense interpretation of the last book of the Bible: Revelation.
Not only are people, including some pastors, ignorant of this book's meaning, but also many do not even know its name, referring to it as Revelations. As Dr. Denova correctly stated, it is one revelation by one person at a particular time in history.
Dr. Denova's concise summary of this fascinating, apocalyptic literature is an enlightened answer to those who hold on to misguided, literalistic interpretations that contribute to poor judgments by individuals and even to bad decisions by national leaders.
National leaders need to heed her last sentence: "Instead of having God 'fix it' for us, the real apocalyptic joy may come from the discovery of how we can work it out ourselves."
REV. BARRY L. LEWIS
Aleppo
The writer is a retired United Methodist pastor.
God will prevail
Regarding Rebecca Denova's Aug. 13 Forum piece: The Book of Revelation is a book of both judgment and hope. It depicts the most catastrophic events that this world will ever experience. In Matthew 24:22 Jesus said, "And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved." But like any book, it's the ending that matters the most. Good prevails over evil. There will be a new heaven and a new earth. God establishes His Kingdom where Jesus Christ rules not only in the Millennium, but forever. In Revelation 21:4 it states, "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
Dr. Denova states, "As humans, we have created most of the disasters of this world. Instead of having God 'fix it' for us, the real apocalyptic joy may come from the discovery of how we can work it out ourselves." Unfortunately, that is the problem. Since the time of Adam, we have been trying to do it "our way" instead of God's way. That's why we have so many problems in the world. Is the world getting better or worse? Imagine if we all lived by the Ten Commandments; the majority of the world's problems would not exist.
God promised that He will always be with those who put their trust and faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, as their Lord and Savior, both in this life and the life to come.
KEN MAKER
Baden
Worth repeating
Recently I read that the Israeli army dropped leaflets over Lebanon, just before missile strikes, urging civilians to get out of the area.
Whether this is true or not, I like the idea, and so I'd like to drop Jack Kelly's Aug 6 column, "Hearts and Minds," all over America. Maybe Europe too. If any piece of writing should make us sit up and think a little more clearly, that column does it. I commend you for your choice in writers.
SARA McLAIN
Evans City
Catholics need to have an open discussion about female priests
For more than 30 years, there has been a message not to talk about or lobby for the ordination of women to the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church. This has not stopped thousands of Catholic women from getting graduate degrees in theology, Scripture and pastoral ministry. Further, thousands of these women are working in the church at all levels, doing what only priests did 40 years ago. We can attribute these new ministries to the women's movement and the openness of Vatican II to the Spirit in the modern world. Apparently, the argument that we have always done it that way does not apply to all of the above.
It was good to see up close how church officials intimidate those who might disagree with the ban on women. You are labeled as not a loyal Catholic because you are opposing a teaching of the church that has apparently reached the exalted position of being part of the Deposit of Faith most recently.
On top of that, you're giving scandal and, therefore, can be fired if you work for the church.
The judgment of scandal is somewhat subjective, which makes it a good weapon of intimidation. Who says one is giving scandal? To whom? What if one is only raising other possibilities? What about Cardinal Bernadin's Common Ground Project, whereby different sides in the Catholic Church talk with each other with an effort to be prayerfully open?
Would you hear a person who might say that the three arguments (or four) that are put forward are really all one, and a weak one at that? Does it come down to, "We always did it that way" (think slavery, women's rights, usury, anti-Semitism), and the all-time clincher, "Because I said so!"
We heard somewhere in years of seminary that a theological position as a teaching had to have a solid, reasoned basis to support it, not pious altar lace. Perhaps we were wrong.
John XXIII opened the windows of the church and called for an updating.
John Paul II asked forgiveness from everyone the church had sinned against through the centuries. The church is ever new, full of life and surprises.
Actually, this ban on women is good for a few more years, until we retire. Otherwise, we might be replaced with a woman who is much more qualified.
REV. NEIL McCAULLEY
Hazelwood
REV. JACK O'MALLEY
Highland Park
The writers are Catholic priests.
Christ's will
In reply to those who erroneously think the false and unauthorized ordination of women as Roman Catholic priests is permissible and legitimate -- remember, the practice of ordaining only baptized men was the decision of Christ himself. Not even Mary, the Immaculate Conception, was called by Christ to be a deacon, priest or bishop.
To presume to know better than Christ's will is an extremely dangerous position. The sin of presumption, in this case, that God will forgive you automatically because you are liberal and "meant well" is a sin against the Holy Spirit. That is one of the most grievous sins anyone can commit.
To aid and abet this travesty is also included in this absurd folly. We all are responsible for our actions and encouragements. Think extremely hard on this, not just on going with what the current liberal agenda happens to be.
CHARLES W. SCHOHN
Lower Burrell
