Editorials / Opinion

The majority of emails and letters we received over the weekend concerned the dismissal of gay vice principal Mark Zmuda. Here are 3 reader submissions:

The real outrage at Eastside Catholic High School is not the firing of the vice principal, it is the lack of moral formation shown in the rallies [“Thanks to the Students of Eastside Catholic,” Opinion, Dec. 20, 2013].

This is a common problem. That is why the pope called for a new evangelism. The Ten Commandments are binding on all people. Christians are not to be conformed to the world. The idea that the church needs to change to conform to the world violates scripture.

GOP should learn from pope Pope Francis puts his hands together to acknowledge the crowd as he is driven through St. Peter’s Square Sept. 25, 2013. [AP Photo/Andrew Medichini] If it’s good enough for the pope, it should be good enough for the GOP. [“Pope calls for church to be inclusive, less dogmatic,” page one, Sept….

A welcome change Pope Francis poses for a photo after a meeting with youths in downtown Cagliari, Italy, Sept. 22, 2013.[AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino] I find it extraordinarily refreshing that Pope Francis has articulated and emphasized the core values of the Catholic faith — service to the poor and marginalized that acknowledges the divine in all individuals —…

Beliefs of few shouldn’t govern treatment of many Thanks to Dr. Tom Preston for clarifying some implications of the impending Catholic takeover of half of the hospitals and major medical systems in Washington state, a state which is less than 12 percent Catholic. [“Guest column: Defend death with dignity in Catholic-run medical facilities,” Opinion, Sept….

PeaceHealth does not prohibit end-of-life care As medical director of the PeaceHealth hospice program in Bellingham, I was dismayed by your editorial statement that PeaceHealth “prohibits end-of-life services.” PeaceHealth has long been a leader in supporting patients at the end of life; this is central to our mission and values [“Editorial: Give PeaceHealth-UW partnership a…

PeaceHealth does not prohibit end-of-life care As medical director of the PeaceHealth hospice program in Bellingham, I was dismayed by your editorial statement that PeaceHealth “prohibits end-of-life services.” PeaceHealth has long been a leader in supporting patients at the end of life; this is central to our mission and values [“Editorial: Give PeaceHealth-UW partnership a…

Hospitals should remain separate from religious institutions I have been concerned for some time about the mergers of public hospitals with Catholic hospitals [“Catholic health system, UW Medicine sign pact,” NWTuesday, May 21]. Now the University of Washington hospital has made such an arrangement. I believe that hospitals that receive public tax support must remain separate from…

Keep Catholic system out of UW While everyone has been fearing Obamacare, what the people in Washington should fear is “popecare,” as more and more of our local and regional hospitals are being turned over to the Catholic Church [“Catholic health system, UW Medicine sign pact,” NWTuesday, May 21]. Want compassionate end-of-life care? You won’t get…

Critics must convince commissioners to hear their cries I attended a meeting of People for Healthcare Freedom in Mount Vernon and left with the sickening thought that no matter what the People for Healthcare Freedom said or did, the board of commissioners would do whatever it wanted [“Hospitals’ proposed affiliation with Catholic systems opposed,” NWSunday, April…