Don’t ever omit columnists Father Ron Rolheiser or Father Richard McBrien. They are consistently intellectually expansive, commonsensical and thought-provoking as, not incidentally, is columnist Frank Wessling.
Wessling was particularly insightful in the April 2 edition in his editorial on “Health care challenges.” The notion that some people think “there’s something not quite right about sharing equally” speaks to the epitome of selfishness when it comes to deciding who should receive health care coverage.
In a question-and-answer article on conscience protections for health care workers and institutions that appeared in the same issue, Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, N.Y., vividly illustrates an Achilles Heel of Catholic/Vatican modus operandi: unswerving tenacity in not deferring to common sense, but rather in violation of it.
Discussing the issue of abortion, he states that he would not allow it even in the case of rape or incest. Yes, the unmarried clergy at all levels do have blind spots.
William Bleeker
Iowa City
