Letters in the Editor's Mailbag.

Byline: The Register-Guard

A felony, not a scandal

I am appalled by the atrocities committed by Catholic priests on innocent children. I hear the word "scandal" continually, but I don't hear the words "trial" or "prison." Why and how is the church protecting its pedophile priests? Why are millions upon millions being paid out in "restitution" for these criminals, while they have been allowed to move on to sexually abuse other children? More importantly, where is the justice system?

If any other man in America repeatedly sodomized vast numbers of boys and was exposed, he would be labeled as the most horrible criminal and thrown in jail. Instead, these priests have been conveniently moved to other areas or quietly removed from their parishes, and the poor souls who were victimized are paid large sums of money for their "trouble."

Now, since the press has forced the hand of the Vatican, the pope has "condemned" this practice - no kidding. Still, these dreadful men are allowed to walk the streets. Why? Does the Catholic Church really have so much power that it can circumvent the judicial system? Apparently.

I would like to see these pedophiles treated as any other person who robs children of their innocence and, actually, their very life. I have seen second-hand how devastating the raping of young boys can be, and how the fallout continues through generations. Lives are destroyed by the secret molestation by their most respected elders. It is literally hell on earth for these kids - in the name of religion, no less.

I want to see this tragedy addressed through the proper channels and not hidden behind the cloak of the church. I want to see these predators punished for their deeds, but, better yet, kept away from the children they prey upon. It is not a "scandal," it is a felony. Let's treat it as such.

DENISE BAKER Eugene

An ancient conflict

When Thomas Becket was killed in 1170, it was part of the struggle between the Catholic Church and King Henry II of England regarding "criminous clerks." The church wanted to keep clerics charged with serious offenses from being turned over to the royal courts for prosecution.

So, maybe this issue still hasn't been settled.

F.M. DROUIN Eugene

County aids foundation

The Register-Guard's April 4 article by Larry Bacon on the action of the Coos County commissioners regarding the snowy plover was prefaced with a very misleading headline: "Foundation aids county in litigation over plover."

It is actually the county that is aiding the Pacific Legal Foundation. It is the foundation's mission to challenge any and every environmental law on every pretext that can be found. For their purpose the foundation needs some public body to lend credibility to its suit.

No county in California, no county in Washington and no county in Oregon except Coos would lend the foundation a helping hand, mindful of the risk of large court costs if this suit is deemed frivolous, as well it may be.

WALTER E. DOERFLER Jr. Coos Bay

Need for library grows

I'm supporting the Eugene library levy (Ballot Measure 20-58), and this is why.

When we came to Eugene in 1952 and found the Eugene Public Library at 13th Avenue and Olive Street, we were pleased because we believe that a library is an essential public service in any viable and thriving community. Today, 40 years later, the population of Eugene has more than doubled, and so has the demand for the services it provides with the help of many volunteers - but the library is still operating in the same small building. After repeated failures and the work of many dedicated citizens, a new building is finally being constructed, which is expected to meet the needs of the community for many years to come.

But there is a further challenge - how to pay for the growing demand for services. In 1998, when demand exceeded the revenue available in the city's general fund, voters approved a four-year levy that has enabled the library, among other things, to open two small branch libraries in Bethel and Sheldon. That levy will expire on June 30, 2003.

The proposed new four-year levy, which would go into effect the next day, would cover services now provided by the current levy and in addition would enable the library to buy more books and materials, to stay open more hours, to continue the branch libraries, and to pay for additional services and increased operating and maintenance costs in the new building.

It would increase the average citizen's property tax by approximately $3 a month. A small price to pay!

ANNABEL KITZHABER Eugene

Candidate being used

There is a lot of misinformation being used in the Ward 5 Eugene City Council race. This past weekend one of the candidates and representatives from a city employees' union canvassed the ward, making statements that the incumbent Councilor Gary Pape was anti-fire department; this is simply not that case.

Look back at Pape's voting record. Over the past four years, Pape has been one of the most supportive councilors of fire and life safety services in Eugene.

It seems that one candidate is being used by a union as a negotiating tool for its upcoming contract talks. It's too bad the union apparently feels the need to use the political process to get more than it could in open and honest negotiations.

Vote for honesty, vote for Gary Pape in Ward 5.

MICHAEL T. ROBERTS Eugene

Another holocaust?

Back in the 1980s, at the time of the first Palestinian intifada, the Jewish Committee on the Middle East said that what Palestinians were suffering at Israel's hands was really a holocaust. The principal tract that made this accusation was by Charles Black, at one time a member of the Yale law faculty and at one time an occupant of the Wayne Morse Chair on Law and Politics here at the University of Oregon.

Have Palestinians now suffered another holocaust? The carnage and destruction inflicted under Ariel Sharon's direction during recent months make the question timely. It has, indeed, taken on a double timeliness in view of the call in some Israeli circles that the Palestinians be relocated elsewhere. This call resembles the call by some Nazis 60 years ago that Jews generally be relocated outside Germany.

Do we now see in Israel another vindication of Ralph Waldo Emerson's observation 150 years ago that we become like that which we hate?

ORVAL ETTER Eugene

Choose whom to believe

Whom should we believe and follow?

Anna Peroutka (letters, April 26) wants us to learn to honor our sexual differences. God tells us that some of that diverse sexual behavior is dishonorable, contrary to nature and shameless (Romans 1:26-27). Peroutka repeatedly suggests that to disagree with her on this matter is to be hateful. Again I turn to my Bible, and God tells me that homosexual behavior is an abomination (Leviticus 17:22 and 20:13), and that it involves ungodly, lawless deeds and defiling passions (2 Peter 4-10).

I turn back to Peroutka's letter, and she tells me that if I teach my children that homosexuality is wrong, then I am short on both "guts and intelligence" and have failed to teach my children not to discriminate. But don't I want my children to discriminate between good and evil and to seek God's standards and his will for their lives?

Peroutka admits that she has never experienced physical or verbal harassment over her sexual choices but claims she is just lucky. U.S. Justice Department statistics released in October indicate that homosexuals are 23 times more likely to experience violence from their sexual partners as from so-called hate-crimes. Shouldn't we be teaching homosexuals to not be so hateful toward each other?

Health statistics show that 30 percent of 20-year-old homosexual youths will be HIV-positive or dead of AIDS by the time they are age 30. Sin appears to be unhealthy and fatal (Romans 6:23).

Should I follow Anna Peroutka, or God almighty? What a difficult choice!

BARRY DEAN WILLIAMS Eugene

Schuman outstanding

I urge everyone to vote to retain Judge David Schuman - a wise, kind and gentle man with a splendid record as judge - on the Oregon Court of Appeals.

I have known Schuman, his wife and two wonderful children since I moved to Eugene more than 10 years ago. The Schuman family reached out to ease my family's transition to this community. His advice and assistance were invaluable. He was there for us when it counted most.

Schuman also has an outstanding record of service to the people of Oregon. He cares deeply about how laws affect ordinary people and has worked tirelessly to promote a common sense approach to the administration of justice. David Schuman leads by example, and there is no finer example of what we want in a judge.

MARVA D. SOLOMON Eugene

Contradictory arguments

The Register-Guard's contradictory editorials supporting candidates for Eugene City Council Wards 3 and 4 would be humorous if the underlying issues were not so critical to Eugene's future.

First, the editors allege that David Kelly is singularly responsible for PeaceHealth's move to Springfield. Obviously, the editorial board ignores its own reporters, who found just the opposite. Second, The Register-Guard endorses George Poling because of "his maturity." In contrast, the newspaper endorses Kelly's opponent, who is a 21-year-old University of Oregon student. Maturity matters in one race, but not in the other?

If you look at both endorsements, The Register-Guard supports the two candidates who are the least qualified, the least experienced and who are more likely to be sympathetic toward those who would promote urban sprawl in the name of job growth and economic development. For evidence, just look to the public record of political contributors supporting Poling's candidacy.

Just getting along is not a relevant City Council goal when Eugene faces so many divisive growth issues that threaten our current standard of living and provoke increasingly bitter competition for scarce community resources. I would rather have acrimony reign at City Council meetings than see it rampage on our roads and across our property lines.

The Register-Guard's strategy is not honest. It is a deceptive effort to turn the City Council over to the pro-growth interests, the developers and the construction industry, which believes that its survival is only possible in an ever-expanding real estate environment.

KENNETH R. JONES Eugene

CAPTION(S):

The Register-Guard welcomes letters on topics of general interest. Our length limit is 250 words; all letters are subject to condensation. Writers are limited to one letter per calendar month. Because of the volume of mail, not all letters can be printed. Mail letters to Mailbag, P.O. Box 10188, Eugene, OR 97440-2188 Fax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]