Demonizing the pope.

Upon reading Andrew Sullivan's column ["How Dangerous Is Benedict?" May 24], I practically stood up and clapped. As a Catholic and, more important, a believer in God, I hold the church in high regard--at least in general. After all, it's an institution and cannot be perfect. Too many times I have heard nothing but slander and disregard for Benedict XVI. I certainly am not one to agree with most of his ideas and how I think he will lead the church, particularly when it comes to the GLBT community. But Sullivan really hit the nail on the head: "In opposing him, we shouldn't demonize or slander him. That only hurts us." I couldn't agree with this more. Thank you, Andrew.

ANGIE HERRERA Beaverton, Ore.

As he demonstrates in his puff piece on the dangerous Joseph Ratzinger, Sullivan is free to be as foolish as he pleases.

But as a journalist, why does Sullivan write as if his pope is merely a cult leader whose opinions are of interest only to Catholics? All gay adoptions, adoption being a civil process, were condemned as doing "evil" to children. Civil rights for all gays are targeted by the Catholic hierarchy in the United States as it rails and organizes against marriage equality, campaigning for state constitutional amendments and with U.S. bishops voting nearly unanimously to endorse the hateful Federal Marriage Amendment. Church leaders in Spain have hurled invective against civil marriage for gays and advised public officials to refuse to perform them.

I don't appreciate these men of medieval machinations--and those like Andrew Sullivan who support them with their allegiance to the church--trampling on my civil rights.

BOB SCHWARTZ Chicago, Ill.

Sullivan's appropriately short column is a fairly standard combination of enthusiasm, passion, and blindness. As usual, he confirms that he is a good Catholic with no other worship options and issues dictums as easily as any pope: "In opposing him, we shouldn't demonize or slander him," and "that's the core of the church we must try to save." Pretty handy with that "we," aren't you, Andy?

Strangely, he expects Mother Church to apply logic to its law, revealing a complete lack of familiarity with the very church he so loves. Blessed is he who has not seen and believed: Faith is not a factor logic-based game, and surely Sullivan must know this in spite of his writing.

Catholics don't think it's difficult to follow God's Law--they know it's impossible. Contradictions in church law guarantee the requisite failure and requirement for redemption that is the core of the Mass. Evil as defined by the church must be avoided or, in not being avoided, must be atoned for.

For Catholics this means it's not being gay that's the problem--or even the acting on the natural impulses of being gay. The problem is not being sorry about it later.

JEFF GALLAGHER Scotts Valley, Calif.