JOHNSTOWN — Child abuse is by far the most appalling news ever. But I’m a little confused with the reporting of child abuse by Roman Catholics.

As a Catholic, I get upset hearing about it, and I would like to know why the other religions – such as United Methodist, Lutheran and Presbyterians – are not also exposed as blatantly as we Catholics are.

It’s very sad this is going on. My heart goes out to the abused, but expose all the religions, not just Catholics.

I’m very naive as to what goes on in the world. Thank goodness for my grandchildren, they make me more aware. My grandson said to me, they teach us not to judge, not to commit sin, but they in turn are doing all the wrong things.

I told him our priest said to me years ago, “Do as I say, not as I do.”

We must pray for all.

Virginia Stumpo

Johnstown



Raising revenue will save Medicare

I am a recipient of Medicare and Part D of Medicare. At the beginning of this year, all Part D premiums rose an average of 16 percent, as did mine. This, I am told by the private insurance industry, is due to the Affordable Care Act, and this rate of increase will be a year-to-year rise from now on.

If this is so, then the answer to reducing the cost of Part D for seniors is to remove it from the hands of private insurance companies and place it in the hands of the government-operated Medicare system. This would bring down the administrative costs by about 20 percent.

Since the administrative cost of Medicare is about 3 percent, this would bring my premium costs down below last year’s price.

Also, Congress must immediately pass a law to buy pharmaceuticals for Part D at bulk rates, as the government does for the veterans hospitals. This proves that the bulk-rate purchases can be done.

Our representatives cannot repeal the Affordable Care Act. Our representatives saying that there is no political will to do this is not an excuse. Create the will, that is what they were elected to do.

Also, do not even mention socialism. Medicare is not socialism, it is care for those who need medical services.

The answer for saving Medicare is to raise more revenue for the program, as was done in 1986 by a Republican president and a Democratic House.

By not doing this, it will show that our representatives represent the pharmaceutical and insurance industries before the needs of the elderly.

Louis Mollica

Hollidaysburg



During bitter cold, bring pets indoors

With the coldest temperatures arriving in our area, my heart goes out to the animals and pets that are left outside. Even a pet with a shelter is in danger of freezing to death with wind chills of 20-25 degrees below zero.

If for whatever reason you do not want your pet indoors, if you have a basement or even a garage, I strongly urge you to bring your pets in, provide them with warm blankets and keep them away from drafts.

This is dangerous weather and warnings are out for people to stay indoors.

Just because a dog or cat has fur does not protect it from the bitter cold temperatures and winds.

Please open your heart and home and take your pet indoors and keep it warm.

Please do not let it die a slow and very painful death in the cold all alone.

Lori Onderko

Johnstown



Flight 93 chapel was former church

This letter is in response to the Monday article about the Flight 93 bishop and his last service. In the article, it was stated that he turned a seed warehouse into a worship place.  

The building, too, was Mizpah Lutheran Church, a lovely, small, country church.

In 1962, my husband and I came to Somerset to serve Wills and Mizpah churches. He was a new graduate from Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, and the two churches were his first parish.

It was a wonderful experience serving two country churches. For them, being called country churches was praise. Eventually the two churches merged and built a new dwelling.

I think that, if possible, the beginnings of the Flight 93 chapel could not have found a better place than Mizpah Lutheran Church.

Shirley Heasley

Mifflinburg, Union County, formerly of Johnstown



Women’s rights don’t include killing others

After reading the column on Jan. 21 in The Tribune-Democrat by Kate Michelman and Carol Tracy, I was disturbed at their comments on women’s rights.

Apparently, they think that women’s rights give women the right to abort their unborn child so they can get on with their lives, careers, etc. Do they not realize that motherhood is the greatest career a woman can have? Men certainly cannot bear children. Do they not realize that women abort female babies, thus ending the babies’ equal rights?

With all the news about guns killing innocent children and adults (which is a horrible act), do people realize that hundreds of innocent children are being killed each day under legal protection by abortion? Where is the outcry for these innocent children? Where is the protection for their right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness?

Women should have equal rights in this country, but not the right to take an innocent life.

Marge Gallardy

Portage

Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat print edition.

Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat e-edition.