The pope's visit to the United States has received significant press interest.

As a lifelong, middle-aged Catholic, I am surprised by the near rock star treatment from the president and the White House. There is agreement on some social issues between the conservative Catholic Church and this conservative Republican Party of President Bush. There are many values of this administration that are incompatible with my Catholic teaching.

Dismissal of the poor, ready acceptance of the death penalty, support for a war in Iraq costing hundreds of thousands of innocent lives, and disregard for the sick by a lack of planning for health care for those who don't have any are contrary to my Catholic teaching.

The cynic in me would be suspicious that the White House is up to something. It wouldn't be doing this to appeal to Catholic voters in an election year, would it? I thought Karl Rove had gone back to Texas.

MARIO KINSELLA
Indiana Township

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The Catholic Church is back in the national spotlight with the pope's visit to America.

And, of course, the media are serving up a steady diet of stories about conflicted parishioners with poor attendance and other problems.

Never mind the extraordinary unity of essential doctrine that millions of us have shared around the world for thousands of years.

And I can understand the omission of any stories about the church's vast array of social, medical and educational services that are available to everyone.

After all, it would be hard to report on all of these ministries, since there are quite simply too many of them to mention in a single newspaper or magazine.

JOSEPH CARDUCCI
Mt. Lebanon

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Thanks for Joe Grata's update on the bids for the next phase of the light-rail extension project to the North Shore ("Subway Bids Are Budget Busters," April 16). I'm still astounded that this boondoggle (the perfect word for this project) is still moving ahead, and I'm hoping these bids for phase two will wake up a few officials with the authority to try to stop it before it becomes Pittsburgh's version of Boston's "Big Dig" waste of public money.

As my family left a Pirates game on April 12, I was trying to explain the purpose of the construction next to PNC Park to my 12-year-old daughter. "That's dumb," she observed. If only the Port Authority's management and other public officials could see this situation that clearly.

RICH McHALE
Shaler

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Although I commend Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato for stepping into the controversy over the proposed removal of the Peter Calaboyias "Silver Grid Wall" sculpture at Pittsburgh International Airport, it is not clear to me why this important example of "public art" should be moved at all ("Airport Sculpture Could Find New Home in Terminal," April 12). Once again, money is trumping art in our region. Is one ad over an escalator, which all arrivals to Pittsburgh would see as they head to their local destinations, going to save the airport? I doubt it.

Instead of spending time obsessing over a work of art, the county Airport Authority board and its chairman, Glenn Mahone, should be working diligently toward reinstituting direct flights to and from Pittsburgh, thus bringing in more travelers and spenders to our city, counties and the airport mall. If there is wall space in the terminal for the Calaboyias sculpture, as Mr. Onorato suggests, use that space for more advertising.

Unfortunately, this whole episode sends the wrong message. How demeaning it must be for an artist to have to go before a county board to have to defend his creation, in place for at least 15 years, when the rationale for eliminating it is to provide a place for an advertisement.

What artist in his or her right mind will even consider submitting a proposal for public art knowing that the work could be discarded later on because the powers that be -- including local "art arbiters" such as Patricia Lowry of the Post-Gazette -- decide it no longer serves the "right" purpose?

PEGGY CHARNY
Squirrel Hill

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I was saddened to read in the PG about the Airport Authority's plan to remove the large multipaneled wall sculpture from its current location at the airport ("Airport Sculpture Could Find New Home in Terminal," April 12).

I remember distinctly the first time I saw that sculpture; it was 13 years ago when I arrived here for a job interview. As I descended the escalators at the airport, my gaze fell upon the sculpture. The shapes of the panels immediately reminded me of the water and hills of Pittsburgh (I had visited here previously, traveling through the old airport). More important, the sculpture filled me with a sense of vitality and optimism about the region. The next day I had my job interview. Subsequently I received the job offer, which I accepted, and I've lived here happily with my family ever since.

For me, the wall sculpture provided a very positive impression about Pittsburgh. Replacing it with an electronic billboard will make our arrivals area look just the same as that of many other airports. I can understand the financial considerations on the part of the Airport Authority, but I believe that it is also worth something in terms of promoting the region to keep this unique and beautiful piece of art in its present location.

RANDALL FEENSTRA
Indiana Township

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I was disappointed to read that Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato proposes to reduce the air quality regulations for Allegheny County ("County Will Keep, Modify Air Quality Program," April 12).

For too many years, polluting industries have not acknowledged the cost of abusing the public's health. It is a crime that Mr. Onorato and local business leaders have decided to escalate this abuse.

JEFF MULERT
Aspinwall

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Regarding the Homestead affair ("Haunted in Homestead? Paranormal Investigators Say Police Aren't the Only Force in Their Headquarters Building," April 17): It is sad to read that some people believe in paranormal events. It is even sadder to realize many of them probably vote.

KEITH H. SUEKER
Penn Hills

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The so-called cartoon by the Toledo Blade's Kirk Walters that appeared in the April 13 PG Forum section ("Prisoner of War") is a sick commentary on a sad situation. Regardless of your party affiliation, John McCain was a brave man who served his country well and put himself in harm's way to avoid being used as propaganda by our enemy.

The drawing is shameful. To suggest years of torture and imprisonment are in any way funny reflects a sick mind. He owes an apology to Mr. McCain and to the readers who were subjected to his twisted thinking.

JOSEPH YOEST
Peters

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I am a Penn Hills native transplanted to Lancaster County. I have had the privileges of living in Europe for more than three years. I enjoy coming home for a visit to Pittsburgh, but I must say that Pittsburgh is not the same city I remember from my high school days.

When did the city and other areas, Penn Hills in particular, begin not to care how filthy the streets have become? I am embarrassed for all of you and for myself, too! With Earth Day coming up, why not take a trash bag out and clean your street? I sure don't want my husband (who is from Ohio) to see my parents' street until they have a chance to clean it up. Take pride in your amazing city, Pittsburgh!

While I am on my soapbox, can anyone tell me why the Allegheny County prisoners aren't out cleaning the trash off the parkways and other streets? Do they still enjoy cable at the jail? Why are they allowed to have privileges and I can see no "giving back to society"? I guess chain gangs would be too non-PC. Oh well, it's not my city to have to look at every day. But you can believe that when I come back for a visit, I will be trying to clean the small world where I grew up.

The one thing I can say about many of the countries I have been to, they may not have the money and the material possessions that we do, but they care about their homeland. Shame on us for not caring for our city.

SHANNON (ROHRBAUCK) BISHOP
Lancaster

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