Letters to the editor for Thursday, July 3

HERE'S THE CHURCH

And here are the people

The Star Tribune and archdiocese spokesman Dennis McGrath got it wrong when it was said that Catholic treasures were stolen from the archbishop's residence (front page, July 1).

Catholic treasures aren't crosses too big for rappers to wear and gaudy rings. Catholic treasures are folks like the faithful nuns at the Carondolet Center; the parishioners of St. Joan of Arc who welcome all to worship every Sunday; and the musicians, liturgists, receptionists, priests and volunteers who lead worship and grow the church every day.

BETH-ANN BLOOM, WOODBURY

GAY PRIDE AND ST. JOAN

Healthy self-respect

Pride is a tricky word, and it should not be used to twist a viewpoint about the gay community. Katherine Kersten ("The real story behind the gay pride issue at St. Joan," June 30) asserts that "Christianity views pride as a sin," and therefore "'gay pride' is out of place in church."

The word "pride" can mean a sense of being puffed up, an inordinate conceit. But it can also mean simply a sense of reasonable self-respect, the opposite of "shame." For so long, much of society has wagged the finger of shame at folks who discover themselves to be gay, that a term like "gay pride" has surfaced in order to reclaim that healthy sense of self-respect. It does not mean the sinful type of pride that Kersten so viciously attaches to it.

And regarding the tenets of the church, this Christian believes that the love that Jesus taught us to display is clothed in the full feeling of self-worth that each individual finds in an honest and loving relationship, with another human, and with God. If Kersten's interpretation of Christianity is limited to the sinful elements of humanity, then she has some other study to do as well.

GARY CLEMENTS, ST. PAUL

The Catholic Church, like all religions, is a human institution inspired by human ideas about God and the nature of reality. Perhaps the protesters at St. Joan of Arc would better apply their energies to finding a church that espouses their own ideas about God and the nature of reality. Belonging to this church is not coerced, it is a choice.

I believe the choice is to work in love within the system you are in, with quiet conviction living your spirituality to work for positive change and maturely embrace the positive aspects of where you are, or to leave that church and find a new religious home.

I don't understand how vitriolic or self-righteous hyperbole, even at injustice, contributes to positive change -- or shows the way to greater love.

MARY BOLTON, BIRCHWOOD

The problem with Katherine Kersten's column on St. Joan of Arc Church and gay pride is that it is all based on the underlying assumption that being gay is a sin. The truth is, it's genetic, so you might just as well make having green eyes or being 7 feet tall a sin.

Of course, people are still arguing about that, but evidence is mounting. It took the Catholic Church 400 years to acknowledge that Galileo was right: The sun does not revolve around the earth. I suspect it will be at least that long, if ever, before the church changes its position on being gay.

In the meantime, I think the problem surrounding St. Joan's hurts the church far more than it affects gay people.

DAVID M. PERLMAN, NEW HOPE

OIL COMPANY PROFITS

Because soldiers died

After reporting billions of dollars in profits last year, the major oil companies are now announcing lucrative deals worth $500 million to expand oil production in Iraq ("Bush administration won't interfere with negotiations between Iraq and Western oil companies," June 24).

It seems as though the oil companies are literally profiting from the sacrifice of over 4,000 soldiers who lost their lives when the United States invaded Iraq under false pretenses. Although oil prices are at an all-time high, at what point will the government make a stand for moral and ethical justice?

CORY VONACHEN, MINNEAPOLIS

COLEMAN'S D.C. APARTMENT

Sweet deal has a smell

So Jeff Larson provides Sen. Norman Coleman with a deluxe townhouse to live in, right on Capitol Hill. When questioned, Coleman and Larson allege "It's only a cramped bed, crammed into the corner of a basement, used for only three hours a night."

I've got friends who live in Takoma Park, just miles from Capitol Hill, who rent out a basement bedroom with no kitchen for more than $1,000 a month. It's dingy and moldy, and I wouldn't leave a dog there overnight, but the going rental rates are ferocious.

This one does not pass the smell test.

DAVE PORTER, MINNEAPOLIS

LABOR DEFICIENCIES?

American solutions

Ronald Bosrock's June 30 column about skill-based immigration says the world's labor is the labor market for U.S. corporations. Bosrock failed to mention that our governments, colleges, universities and corporations have the responsibility for solving any alleged skill-based labor deficiencies. In short, alleged problems are to be resolved by Americans.

If an increase in skills-based immigration is considered, then the following must be implemented first:

• Such immigration must be a part of the total immigration quota (including illegal aliens);

• All illegal aliens are deported and genuine border security is implemented.

• Immigration practices and policy are transferred to the Labor Department.

• All claimed shortages filled by foreign labor must be temporary, and workers must return annually to their homeland and reapply.

• The practice of allowing instant citizenship of any baby born and family "re-unification" must be denied.

• Colleges and universities must have in place the curricula to match alleged needs, and employers must have programs to provide Americans with the skills alleged to be lacking.

DELL ERIKSON, MINNEAPOLIS