Readers write for Saturday, March 5

The Rev. Michael Tegeder's latest dissent from official Catholic teaching raises, yet again, questions about his sincerity in serving the church ("A move to limit lay preaching," Feb. 24). Apparently, he believes church rules don't apply to him.

In rejecting church authority, this priest is also rejecting the church. If he had the courage of his convictions, he would leave. He needs our prayers.

GARY HEJNA, MINNETRISTA, MINN.

* * *

Minnesota is deeply in debt. City taxes are already high. Our state has high unemployment. People are losing their homes due to foreclosure. Gasoline is selling at $3.50 a gallon. Public transportation is raising rates. Food prices are rising.

With a new roof being put on the Metrodome, why can't the Vikings, who play there, show some respect and humility instead of demanding more taxpayer support?

JAMES LUND, CRYSTAL, MINN.

* * *

It's difficult to accept that Republicans in our Legislature need GOP chairman Tony Sutton to do their thinking for them ("GOP's 'no new tax' unity fraying," March 2). If they aren't falling in line with his orders on budget solutions, perhaps it's because some of them have minds of their own.

Unity is one thing, but expecting our lawmakers to be robots who walk in lockstep with current party dogma is a betrayal to voters. These voters believed that they were electing actual representatives, but instead they got Sutton's mindless drones.

MICHAEL MUMMAH, BROOKLYN PARK

* * *

How exactly will "young aspiring teachers" who are fast-tracked into the profession going to be the answer to eliminating the achievement gap ("Faster path for aspiring teachers," March 1)?

Is it the fact that they are young? That seems to be the word used most frequently with the fast-track approach.

If young people are all we need to solve complex societal problems, then why not offer fast-track programs for lawyers, judges, doctors, legislators and executives?

I don't have any evidence that this will work, but neither do those who proclaim this approach will cure what ails education.

KRISTINA ROBERTSON, APPLE VALLEY

* * *

If we're really going to have separation of church and state in this country, then there should be no consideration given to anybody's religious calendar when designing a school schedule ("School calendar -- there's a precedent for working around religious observances," March 2).

If a student's family believes an event is important enough to miss school, then they can make that choice. I don't want a pharmacist deciding what to dispense based on her religious beliefs.

I don't want a cab driver refusing a passenger based on liquor in the luggage. I don't want a cashier at Target refusing to handle pork.

And I don't want a person insisting on taking a picture for a driver's license with her face covered.

Believe what you want, whether it's in a deity from ancient times or the flying spaghetti monster, but please don't expect everyone else to accommodate you. We are too diverse for that.

CINDY EARNEST, BLOOMINGTON

* * *

In Minneapolis' Riverside neighborhood, where Cedar Avenue meets Minnehaha, the potholes are now so big that you can see the original cobblestone street and the old streetcar tracks.

If we let nature take its course, perhaps we have a solution to the current rising cost of gasoline. We could bring back the streetcars without the necessity of creating a lot of new infrastructure.

WARREN SAGSTUEN, MINNEAPOLIS

* * *

It irks me when people ask when the price of gas is going to get high enough to change people's habits. Why? Because it isn't going to happen.

I cannot reduce my consumption more than what I'm doing now. I'm always on a budget, and the amount of gasoline that I consume has not changed in 22 years. I've always been a responsible adult with family obligations that require you to only use the resources that you need and no more.

I don't feel that I'm unique in this. So don't tell me to change my habits. I would if I could.

CHET AUGUSTSON, MONTICELLO, MINN.

* * *

I was delighted to read your very thorough and thoughtful editorial on the unfortunate hearings on Muslims planned by U.S. Rep. Peter King, R-New York ("Terror hearings fuel anti-Muslim fears," Feb. 26).

At the same time, I'm concerned about the rapid rise in organized and armed hate groups. I hope that the angry rhetoric tones down so that a calm, educational exchange about security concerns can take place.

The mainstream media has a big role to play in putting issues in their proper context. I'm glad to see Star Tribune taking the lead on this one.

ÖNDER ULUYOLO, FRIDLEY

* * *

English language only? Ya, sure, you betcha, Ole.

JOHN H. SALMON, LITTLE FALLS, MINN.

* * *

To offer an opinion considered for publication as a letter to the editor, write no more than 250 words to opinion@startribune.com. Include your name and the city where you live.

Follow us on Twitter @StribOpinion