Cardinal Wuerl’s statement is self-serving
I am a lifelong Catholic. But after reading the Post-Gazette’s continuing coverage of the grand jury’s report, I’m becoming ashamed and embarrassed to say that I’m a Catholic. I’m now questioning if I will continue worshipping in the Catholic faith. I believe that the monetary contributions that I’ve made over the years to the church would have been better given to organizations such as the Brother’s Brother Foundation, the Light of Life Rescue Mission, the Salvation Army, etc.
In my opinion, the final two sentences of Cardinal Donald Wuerl’s three-sentence “Statement on Grand Jury Report” as published in the Aug. 17 Pittsburgh Catholic newspaper are tone-deaf and self-serving.
Here is what the statement said: “As I have made clear throughout my more than 30 years as a bishop, the sexual abuse of children by some members of the Catholic Church is a terrible tragedy, and the Church can never express enough our deep sorrow and contrition for the abuse, and for the failure to respond promptly and completely. While I understand this Report may be critical of some of my actions, I believe the Report confirms that I acted with diligence, with concern for the victims and to prevent future acts of abuse. I sincerely hope that a just assessment of my actions, past and present, and my continuing commitment to the protection of children will dispel any notions otherwise made by this report.”
Not only should Cardinal Wuerl’s name be removed from North Catholic High School, he should resign as a cardinal, never to be heard from again. TOM SCHEID
Shaler of God’s redemptive and costly love to all. REV. WILLIAM M. PAUL Cranberry
Your Aug. 16 editorial “No More Enemies” was shameful. While many newspapers responded to the call of The Boston Globe to offer editorials supporting freedom of the press, the Post-Gazette chose to attack the Globe and, Trumplike, to criticize both the president and his media critics.
American journalism has often been a less-than-polite enterprise, but the Founding Fathers thought it necessary, as a guarantee of liberty, to ensure a press unconstrained by government irrespective of what it might have to say. That is a crucial message to convey to all citizens in 2018, but the Post-Gazette garbled that message.
Happily, I can report that my local newspaper, The Indiana Gazette, articulated the message clearly and effectively. LIONEL DEIMEL
Indiana, Pa.
Your recent television ads comparing people who are upset aboutthe reduction of the printed paper to five days a week with cranky, technophobic senior citizens are some of the most unnecessarily condescending and insulting ads I’ve ever seen. For the life of me, I can’t understand why you’dwant to alienate the last few subscribersyou have.
As one of the last few, let me tell you why I’m not thrilled about the changes. First, your webpage historically has been difficult to navigate (and I’m not a technophobic senior citizen), so further relying on it doesn’t make anyone happy. Second, a paper that doesn’t publish every daydoesn’t give nonsubscribers, out-of-town visitors or businesspeople the chance to grab a paper when they’re here. And it sends a signal that we’re not a
We welcome your opinion
major city. Hello, Amazon: We have inadequate public transportation, and our paper doesn’t evenprint seven days a week.
Even though I’m not thrilled, frankly it’s not that big of a deal. I enjoy reading the PDF version of the paper. I’m not that old, but I can enlarge the font on my computer. It’s fine. It really is. I get it. It’s a financial decision, and it’s valid. But you could’ve left it at that, instead of spending money you obviously don’t have on nasty TV ads. REBECCA FENOGLIETTO
Penn Hills
I think your new advertising campaign insulting the demographic that has supported the PG and Pittsburgh Press for decades and decades before there was a digital anything, by presenting them as caricatures of a stereotype in a negative manner, is offensive, demeaning and has the complete opposite effect that you are seeking. But it is original, I’ll give you that.
Can’t recall ever seeing an ad aimed at loyal customers portraying them in such a negative way and expecting this to inspire them to just run into the advertiser’s open arms for the newest“product”! REGINA CONNOLLY
Kennedy