Ravenstahl is hiding behind the courts on election

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl was the captain of his college football team, but with his first mayoral action he dropped the ball. Our mayor announcing that he is not going to take the initiative to choose when a mayoral election will occur is his way of hiding behind the courts ("Mayor Orders Election Ruling," Sept. 9).

What we need in a mayor is someone with enough "chutzpah" to make decisions that are best for Pittsburgh. Our mayor, however, finds comfort in allowing the courts to make a decision to protect his political hide. Mr. Ravenstahl had the perfect opportunity to give voters a voice on who should serve the remainder of Mayor Bob O'Connor's term. Instead, it looks as though young Mr. Raven-stahl is praying the courts will say he need not run for election until 2009. Pittsburgh residents know that we didn't elect him to serve three years as mayor.

Fumbling this political football shows us Mayor Ravenstahl's politics. He apparently doesn't respect our right to vote. First, his scheduling blunder would have kept students out of the polls in last year's special election and now he is willing to keep everyone out of the polls in 2007.

Let us remember what happens when the courts get involved with politics ... it wasn't that long ago that George W. Bush won the presidency with a court decision.

JASON PHILLIPS
South Side

The writer is a Democratic Committee member.

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Low-class display

Councilman Jim Motznik may feel that his apology is enough and that "It is all right now," but I have news for him: It's not all right that he didn't have the composure to refrain from such a self-serving outburst ("Motznik Apologizes for 'Out of Line' Comments," Sept. 7).

I was also disgusted to learn that the current mayor (by default) may have had plans for Mr. Motznik to be council president as well. That tells me a lot about him. I am hoping that council keeps a close eye on what is happening. I am not so sure that I am completely comfortable with our new mayor if it is true that he was involved with this lack of respect as well.

This is not a boys' club; you are servants of the people. This was very disrespectful, and I am not sure I will ever get over this. At a time when the city was mourning Everybody's Mayor, we had to be subjected to such a low-class effort in leadership. Let's plan on having elections sooner rather than later.

BERTHA RICCI
Squirrel Hill

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Hope for dialogue

I want to add my voice to those seeking dialogue in the Catholic Church on the subject of the ordination of women. First, it is essential that we agree on what dialogue is and what it is not. A good place to begin is Catholic Common Ground, a division of the National Pastoral Life Center.

The two priests whose letter on this subject appeared Aug. 20 mentioned it as an example of how dialogue can take place in the church ("Catholics Need to Have an Open Discussion About Female Priests"), and I agree. The principles of Common Ground include respectful listening with an emphasis on identifying common values leading to mutual understanding.

In contrast, the priest's letter of Aug. 27 ("Not in This Church") defines dialogue within the church as an exercise of "confirming" and "conforming" to Catholic teaching. What was described is actually monologue because there is no listening, no search for common values, no learning from others' experiences and no chance for developing mutual understanding.

The Aug. 27 letter also misinterprets Catholic Common Ground as a "confirming and conforming" exercise, which it is not. Common Ground gathered 250 women intentionally selected for their diversity of opinions and published the results of their dialogue in a book titled, "The Church Women Want" (Crossroads). This example of real dialogue continues to give me hope that dialogue within the church is possible on the subject of the ordination of women.

This is my church, and I would welcome the opportunity for public dialogue among Catholics seeking shared values and mutual understanding.

JOAN CLARK HOUK
McCandless

The writer was among the women ordained by Roman Catholic Womenpriests on July 31.

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Plan B falsehood

Watching the nationally televised debate between Republican Sen. Rick Santorum and Democratic candidate Bob Casey on "Meet the Press," I am outraged by Sen. Santorum's continued disinformation campaign regarding the contraceptive known as "Plan B" ("Heated Senate Debate Breaks Little New Ground," Sept. 4)

Sen. Santorum's claims that Plan B is an abortifacient is an outright lie. Plan B is birth control, the same birth control used by millions of women all over the country. This same birth control is used by single and married women of all political and religious persuasions, including Republicans, Catholics, Democrats and others who don't fit so neatly into descriptive boxes.

Plan B will not abort a fetus. It prevents the pregnancy from happening in the first place.

I am very frustrated that elected officials with whom the public has placed their trust continue to lie to the public about Plan B.

I want elected representatives who have the ability to understand and explain basic science, not conveniently create falsehoods for the sake of getting votes.

JANIS WILLIAMS
North Side

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GOP, accept reality

Regarding Dave Majernik's Aug. 24 letter, "Democrats at Fault": I always thought that being a good sport was being able to admit defeat. But these die-hard Republicans are far cries from being good sports.

Mr. Majernik, this administration will go down in history books as the worst, most crooked, most stubborn and sneakiest administration that this country has ever seen.

Furthermore, the Democrats in the city and county did not run the Pittsburgh area into the ground. The demise of heavy industry -- thanks to years of Republican no-help nationally -- eroded and caused its downfall.

Finally, Mr. Majernik, we Democrats fully support our beloved troops serving once again in a no-win war (some started by Democrats).

So please, sir, admit defeat, and in November '06 and November '08, you better have a good crying towel ready. Be a good sport.

CHICK DINOVITZ
Scott

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Closing a gem

I can't believe what I've read and seen on TV about the Allegheny Branch of the Carnegie Library being abandoned ("City Seeks New Site for North Side Library," Aug. 31). I wonder who came up with the bright idea?

This masterpiece of a building was built to be a library. Now it's no good as a library. Why?

It's said that there is a move on to build a new library building on Federal Street. Perhaps it will be a nice square concrete block building with a flat roof, more fitting for a garage or a beer distributor, but not a library.

I bet Andrew Carnegie rolled over in his grave with this news.

DALE R. MEYER
Brighton Heights

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Banning books runs counter to American principles

Your timely editorial about banned books reminds us that intellectual freedom is fundamental to our society ("Banned in America: It's No Way for a Modern and Open Society to Be," Sept. 4). Without it, we cannot exercise our other rights.

It is hard to resist the urge to shut up and shut out voices that offend and even enrage us. But our constitutional guarantee of free speech requires us to place that principle above this desire.

I am a librarian. My profession has a long-standing commitment to ensuring that those who use our libraries have access to the full range of human thinking.

Each September, our Carnegie Library, the American Civil Liberties Union and WYEP join libraries all over the nation to celebrate "Banned Books Week." We hope you will join us at 7 p.m. Sept. 25 at Carnegie Library Lecture Hall in Oakland for a free program allowing local readers to share their favorite parts of some books other folks don't want you to read.

VIRGINIA C. ESKRIDGE
Shadyside

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