Bishop smears church critics

Bishop Larry Silva of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu asks for prayers for victims of sexual abuse by clergy, and "enemies of the church who capitalize on this very real problem …" ("Bishop seeks prayers amid new charges of sex abuse," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 2).

How exactly does one capitalize on the molestation of children? Does that mean that anyone who offers criticism over the abuse of children is an enemy of the Catholic Church?

He goes on to say of these enemies that "they cannot tolerate what we teach about … the sacredness of the wonderful gift of our sexuality."The church harbors and hides adults who destroy the sacred gift of healthy sexuality for trusting children and he suggests outsiders are needed to "undermine her moral authority"?

The church is doing an excellent job of undermining itself, and his attempt to blame its problems on anyone else is a galling but doomed attempt at deflection.

Alison Rowland-Ciszek
Kailua

Obama has been doing great job

Are we better off than we were four years ago?

I can answer with an unequivocal "Yes"! Like many, my personal economic situation is not what I’d like, but I am not defined simply by economics.I have a job and am happy to have it.But when I look back on the past presidential term, I can see the most essential progress that sees beyond just a still-ailing economy.

We have ourselves an intellectual who can move us with the kind of rhetoric that makes one proud to be an American and who is recognized and respected overseas. He embodies diversity and has fought his way through repealing "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" and with just a little nudging comes out clearly on behalf of couples in love, whatever their gender.I have not heard anything nearly as clear or promising from the other side — about the economy or otherwise.

Daniel Senger
Palolo Valley

Conservatives, vote for Lingle

For the first time, a Republican has a good chance to win a U.S. Senate seat from Hawaii.

The control of the United States Senate is at stake here, and I would urge conservatives to give their vote to Linda Lingle against her opponent, U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono, who is just another Washington insider. As governor of Hawaii, Lingle did an outstanding job bringing Hawaii through one of the worst economic crises in Hawaii’s history without increasing taxes on the citizens.

It’s time for conservatism to take a foothold in Hawaii,and a vote for Linda Lingle will be a step in the right direction.

Al Eisner
Silver Spring, Md.

Lingle treated parents poorly

Let’s not forget a while back when the school furlough issue was hot, concerned parents and children quietly demonstrated in an ante room to then-Gov. Linda Lingle’s office. They wanted a minute of her time or just to be acknowledged.

Lingle, in all her arrogance and audacity, did not give them the time of day. Instead, she ignored them by entering and exiting through a back door and had the restrooms locked. This lack of concern and kindness left a lasting impression on me.

Today, seeking office, her campaign ad shows her sitting next to a child, saying she "cares for the people."

What hypocrisy!

Lani Wagner
Aiea

Obama, Romney not only choices

Sunday’s Mathis-versus-Boychuk column is a prime example of what is wrong with the "two-party system" ("Should Mitt Romney be elected president?" Star-Advertiser, Red Blue America, Sept. 2).

Many think, as these two seem to, that neither President Barack Obama nor Mitt Romney is really worth voting for. Yet media everywhere continues to promote them as the only options.These two columnists were designated to speak for the right and the left, but both see the same problem. What if a libertarian-oriented voice was included along with these two so someone could see a solution?

Why can’t voters be shown a column for Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson?If the press is as concerned about low voter turnout as it claims to be, maybe it should stop trying to guide voters to choose between bad choices.

Tracy Ryan
Honolulu

UH nurses doing good overseas

With all the negative press the University of Hawaii has received recently, we felt compelled to write a positive commentary about our state university.We had the privilege of spending Labor Day morning on a tour of the USNS Mercy, now docked in Pearl Harbor on its way home to San Diego. A number of UH nursing faculty and students had just completed a medical partnership with the Mercy on a four-month health care mission to Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia. The UH nurses played an important role in improving the health of the impoverished countries. The stories were inspiring.No media has covered this story. We felt very proud, not only of our country and the U.S. Navy, but also of our UH nurses.

What a great example they are showing to the world of our capacity to care and love with no hidden agendas.

Nancy and Jim Schoocraft
Hawaii Kai

Warriors had some good plays

Enough is enough. Why are you rubbing it in ("Oh, the pain," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 2)? We University of Hawaii Warrior football family and supporters are hurting enough.Why didn’t you show Scott Harding making that touchdown instead of Hawaii’s Mike Edwards getting crunched on your front page? How rude!

Roy Uehara
Salt Lake

Apple caved to UH coaches

Shortly after University of Hawaii Chancellor Tom Apple announced a national search for a new athletic director, 18 of 21 coaches submitted an open letter supporting Rockne Freitas for the position.

This was a clever way to prevent qualified candidates from competing for the job. Whether the letter was Freitas’ idea or the coaches’ idea, one thing is apparent: If Chancellor Apple wants to actually oversee the athletic department, he cannot choose Freitas.

Mark Gallagher
Kailua

Public hearings nothing to Aila

The Public Land Development Corp. scares me.

William Aila, chairman of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, states that the public will be allowed to testify on any issue.Based on his track record of the Ahu o Laka (sandbar) issue, you will find that public testimony won’t matter. Despite overwhelming testimony against a proposed rule, it passed anyway.

Public testimony is a formality that he has to go through before he will do what he wants to anyway. Public beware!

Brett Phillips
Kaneohe