RELIGION
Church report on abuse is loose, not the times
After five years of studying the causes of sexual abuse by Catholic priests, a recent report blames “loose times.”
Shame on the Catholic Church for accepting this report. The report trivializes all clergy by implying we can do what we desire to do, and do not have to live up to the true calling of our work as ministers. Simply because the times are “loose,” are we free to commit sins with the children of our parishes? Clergy are called not to imitate the loose times, but to be holy examples to our communities. Has there ever been a time in history when the times were not loose? Until the sins of the guilty priests are correctly named, the abuse could go on forever.
Rev. Janice L. Blissit, Stockbridge
SUNDAY SALES
Alcohol on the sabbath not the next doomsday
I must have missed it when Sunday was declared a day of debauchery and mayhem. How else do you explain the thinking of some of the people quoted in “Some worry about DUI incidents” (Metro, May 20)?
The assumption is that local roads will turn into a demolition derby of sorts when people (panicked when they realize their well has run dry) will hop in their car and weave their way to the nearest store. People in Georgia are well trained at making certain purchases Monday through Saturday, so Sunday sales will be more of a convenience, than a necessity.
The selling of alcohol on a Sunday will not be the apocalyptic event that some make it out to be.
E. Thomas Gray, Lilburn
MIDDLE EAST
Praise for Netanyahu, jeers for Obama
Bravo to Benjamin Netanyahu for rejecting Obama’s bungling attempt to organize the Middle East at Israel’s expense.
The only good thing about Obama’s recent speech is that it will make American Jews realize what a horrible mistake they made in voting for him in 2008. Hopefully, they will avoid the same mistake in 2012.
Walter Inge, Atlanta
LOTTERY
Reader says a national game would ease debt
It’s time for a national lottery. This would be the easiest and fastest way to raise money without raising taxes to pay off our national debt and grow our economy (if set up correctly).
I propose selling tickets for $1 each every day for an entire month. Fifty percent of the money collected would be mandated by law to pay off our national debt and lottery costs; 50 percent would be divided into $1 million prizes to be awarded to winners according to how much of that 50 percent remains. The $1 million prize would be completely income tax-free to the winners throughout the U.S. Their money would be used to pay off their own debts or mortgages; or to pay for whatever people want to do with the money. Merchants would get customers, hire more employees and generate more taxes to help the federal and state governments even more.
There would be a lot of winners, so many would share in the prizes. This would raise needed revenue better than any mandatory tax, and would be a positive way of doing so voluntarily.
Don Memberg, Atlanta
