Letters to the Editor

Father John P. McNamee is right that Catholics, lay and clergy, should speak out when the hierarchy is so lacking in providing moral Christian leadership and compassion for the victims in this current crisis ("A docile tradition protects the church," Tuesday).

As Catholics, we have an obligation to confront wrong when we see it, no matter how painful. I love my faith, and it has been and continues to be nurtured by some wonderful priests. But how do we restore the respect and credibility that our faith deserves without a change in the leadership or at least a drastic change in the way it addresses its current problems?

It is so difficult to convince our young people that they should follow church teaching when its leaders appear to be more concerned with protecting the church's image than showing true compassion and contrition for its victims. My hope is that we Catholics stop being so "docile" about such serious matters.

Richard Nourie

Berwyn

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I commend The Inquirer for recognizing and supporting Campbell Soup's efforts to fight childhood obesity and hunger in Camden ("Campbell's obesity fight," Tuesday).

Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education (AAYTE) has for the past 17 years joined with Campbell's to provide physical activity, nutritional education, and tutoring for thousands of Camden's young people.

Thanks to Campbell's, AAYTE is able to operate summer, after-school, and in-school programs in Camden that include tennis, educational enrichment, and life skills programming. We also conduct workshops for parents about the importance of exercise, healthy eating, and living well.

Kenny Holdsman

President

Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education

Philadelphia

Kenny@ashetennis.org

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Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers was quoted in The Inquirer story "Two children die as flames sweep house" (Wednesday) asking, "How can a fire get to moving so fast in the middle of the day? ... It just doesn't make sense."

It's sad that Ayers doesn't understand the dynamics of fire. For the answer to his question, I suggest that he, and readers, visit the firefighters' union website, www.iaff22.org, and watch the short video "Why Seconds Count," which can be found on the home page.

Joseph P. McCool

Retired fire captain

Philadelphia Fire Department

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Our elected officials in Washington want to balance their long-standing budgetary incompetence on the backs of today's children and families ("Reid's offer on funding gets a quick GOP rebuff," Wednesday).

The continuing resolution recently passed by the House would cut non-security spending by $61 billion compared with fiscal year 2010 levels. Federal education-related programs would be cut by almost $10.6 billion. This would effectively gut special-education grants to local school districts, Head Start for children, initiatives to improve teaching, and Pell Grants to disadvantaged college students, among many other proven programs.

Slashing educational resources will only jeopardize the future for our children and our nation.

Joseph Batory

Philadelphia

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It was refreshing to read a comprehensive and well-written account of the legislative attacks on Planned Parenthood and women in general ("Planned Parenthood attack is one on women," Tuesday). Usually, writers fail to mention the myriad of services Planned Parenthood provides in addition to abortions.

So the questions are, as federal money has not been used for abortions since the 1970s, why the sudden backlash against "all" reproductive health care? Why are poor women expected to suffer disproportionately from the budget cuts? Are women really expected to go back to being second-class citizens? It's time to let our legislators hear a resounding "No."

Judy Wilson

Wayne

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Julia Baird's piece on the attack on Planned Parenthood was correct on every score (Tuesday). If the people of the Middle East can topple their leaders, so can the women of America. No congressperson who voted to stop the funding for preventive health care and screenings for women, especially those with low or modest incomes, should ever see that Capitol again. Let the uprising begin.

Linda Hahn

Philadelphia

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The Republican Congress is taking a strong sword to cut down programs long in place that benefit women and children. It is an attack on nutrition for poor women and children, basic health care, medical assistance, senior citizens, and, unbelievably, preschool. Where is the respect? What decade are these people living in? They seem to want to exercise their new power without any thought about the health and welfare of the nation.

Beverly L. Bock

Glenmoore

Feasterville