But Polaneczky claims she doesn't feel "a morsel" of sympathy for accused priests and refers to her frequent criticisms of the Philadelphia archdiocese in its handling of the priest abuse scandal.

Polaneczky's reason for her sympathy for the late pop star is bunk and her duplicitous rationale smacks of anti-Catholic bias. If she is outraged by the "priests who betrayed the trust of their flock," surely the man who paid millions of dollars to settle his child-molestation charges should outrage her.

Jeff Field, Senior Editor

Catholic League for Religious

and Civil Rights, New York, N.Y.

Gee, if only the Catholic priests could moonwalk, they'd receive absolution, understanding and forgiveness from Ronnie Polaneczky.

Fran Steffler, Philadelphia

Two views of Mendte

I was disappointed to read Kitty Caparella's recent article about Larry Mendte. The article made it sound like Larry said those inane things about kisses and body parts touching.

Why? To make Larry look foolish? You are proving Larry's case about biased reporting. Please check the truthfulness of your stories and your sources.

Marilyn Mendte, Aldan

Ed.: The writer is Larry Mendte's sister.

RE "A kiss & tell filing from Larry Mendte":

Mendte longs to see his face and name in the news, no matter how he accomplishes it.

In view of his lawsuit against both papers, I would suggest that you completely drop anything concerning him.

Failing with his ability to get his name published, maybe he will go back to hiding in his digs in Chestnut Hill and leave the rest of us alone.

William Palmer

Philadelphia

A rebuttal on gay pride

I think David Benkof's recent op-ed is full of odd ideas about gay pride, unusual for someone who claims to be a self-actualized gay man.

In 1969, it was illegal to serve homosexuals liquor. There were no legal gay bars. The Stonewall was allowed to stand because the police were paid off. The bar was raided on a regular basis, and the patrons roughed up and abused. They finally had enough on the night of June 28. Why don't you decry the safety of gay patrons who were the victims of injustice instead of defending corrupt police?

As for your concern about AIDS education being a waste of time, did you ever consider that the education put forward may have thwarted the epidemic that could have resulted if ignorance were allowed to stand?

However, he is correct that 40 years into this social movement, we can find ways to give gays and lesbians what they really need - and what we need is to be treated as every other citizen, equal in all aspects.

Randolph Husava, Philadelphia

After gambling, let's try sex

If casino revenues are going to be so great for the city, let's make prostitution legal in Pennsylvania.(The politicians have already turned the state capitol into a whorehouse.)

I'd love to see Ed Rendell in high heels and fishnet stockings! No wonder Rep. DeWeasel is pushing so hard for table games even before the casinos are built.

Didn't we see that coming? We're not all bucktooth hillbillies in Pennsylvania, fellas.

Daniel Sullivan

Philadelphia