Can a Reformation resolve this scandal?

On a TV interview about the current scandal in her church, (“Shepherds: Stop preying on the flock,” Our View, Aug. 19), a Roman Catholic woman observed with frustration that all the power is with the priests and the bishops. Christians in the pew have none.

We Presbyterians saw the same thing in the 16th century and rejected the bishops.

We elect our leaders from the whole body of Christians, calling them “elders,” in Greek, presbyters.

The Anglicans did not go so far, and kept the bishops, but today the Episcopal Church General Convention is bicameral: the House of Bishops, and the House of Deputies made up of equal numbers of clergy and laity.

Could it be that resolving this scandal will require a new Reformation? The Rev. Richard Rowe Santa Fe

Taking charge

The report in The New Mexican that U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-N.M., leads U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., by 2 points in the Emerson College poll is shocking (“Poll: Governor’s race a dead heat,” Aug. 21).

A Democratic candidate should have a substantial advantage given the low approval in New Mexico of both the outgoing Republican governor and President Donald Trump.

Lujan Grisham’s insignificant lead can only be explained by her lackluster campaign.

Her ads are milquetoast rather than take charge.

There is no crisp campaign slogan.

The image of her in a white blouse against the brown of the desert says it all: an angel lecturing us rather than a tough visionary.

And, newspaper articles tend to be about her defending herself against Pearce criticisms rather than challenging her opponent. Lujan Grisham must project the focus, punch and drive of a strong leader.

We Democrats deserve a better candidate than another Hillary Clinton who acts like she deserves our support. John D. Holm

Santa Fe

No ignoring danger

The threat to shut down the government if Congress doesn’t bow to his demands speaks of the usurpation of the powers granted to the legislative branch of the government by the U.S. Constitution.

For those who don’t know, the name “Donald” is from the Gaelic and means “world ruler.”

By his egregious actions, it seems that this is known and believed by the president who pouts and poses, postures and grandstands.

This, as the nation and the world face dark hours in which the norm has become push and shove, while a “wall” is the racist solution meant to mollify followers of his agenda that meek toadies amplify.

The man is too dangerous to dismiss. Frank Torres Sapello

Warren’s bill

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., proposes an “Accountable Capitalism Act” to oppose the power of multibillion-dollar capitalists now dominating us, such as the Koch brothers, who fund national libertarian causes.

The Kochs are pushing for confirmation of right-wing Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. They did it for Neil Gorsuch. The Kochs want their own Supreme Court.

Warren’s bill would effectively shift corporate profits at large companies much more to their workers and discourage corporate funding of politics.

It could help heal democracy and distribute national wealth on a more honest basis.

Her proposal reminds me of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream company in Vermont, where the owners limited their CEO’s salary to five or seven times the lowest-paid employee.

The salary plug made them famous. We need something like that now.

Our present Congress won’t touch Warren’s bill, but a Democratic Congress in January could. Richard H. Frost, Ph.D. Santa Fe