Letters to the Editor category, Page 10

The Catholic church requires clearances to do anything short of attending Mass. What would Jesus think? My church welcomes people in, and if they want to do anything, a packet is given to them of things to do to protect children. This packet includes an FBI fingerprint-based criminal history background...

The writer of the letter “America needs unity, not protest” (July 2, TribLive) called for unity in our country and an end to protests. Unfortunately, that ship has sailed. The president he would like us to unify around refers to people like me, my family and friends as “scum” and...

I am a parent of a special education student in Pittsburgh Public Schools. Like so many across our state, I want my child — and others like them — to attend public schools that are safe, welcoming, thriving and rich with the resources our young people need to dream and...

It’s been one year since the events in Butler, July 13, 2024. Here we are at the first anniversary of “Julteenth.” Yes, that’s right; it was one year ago that we nearly lost Donald Trump to an assassin’s bullet. Our country has benefited with him as our president. He was...

There is a serious issue facing our seniors, veterans, disabled, widows and widowers who live in manufactured home communities, threatening their futures. These residents own their homes but not the land. The landlords of these properties are not restricted by law on what rent they charge, so these properties have...

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” This powerful line from Emma Lazarus’ poem “The New Colossus” is inscribed on a plaque on the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal. The phrase is often cited as a core element of America’s identity, reflecting this country’s history...

The Pittsburgh Steelers will need to earn the respect from the NFL that they are a true contender by their 60 minute play and team synergy. Since we have already used the 60 Minute Men in the past, I am nicknaming the 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers as “Quiet Riot!” Ed Heintz...

Woe unto them who cry “socialism” when the poor are fed — but cheer when the rich grow fatter off government largesse. Donald Trump, self-proclaimed champion of capitalism, governed like Pharaoh: hoarding wealth, building monuments to himself and handing out borrowed treasure to his inner court. His new “Big, Beautiful...

The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were well aware they were putting their very lives on the line by adding their signatures to that document. However, they believed so strongly in the path they were taking to be free from the oppression of King George III that they...

In 2020, electing President Biden was a mistake of choice. In 2024, electing President Trump was a mandate of choice. In May 2024, 64,000 illegal migrants crossed Biden’s southern border. This May, zero illegals crossed that same southern border. The people chose Trump’s border. In 2025, “America first” policy invests...

President Trump ordered seven B-2 stealth bombers against Iran, dropping 14 30,000-pound “bunker busting bombs.” He claimed sole authority under the “executive power” of Article II of the Constitution. I think he is confused. Article II names the president “commander in chief” and states that “The executive Power shall be...

Mary Jo Simmen-­Gray’s op-ed “The real story behind the Marcellus impact fee windfall” (July 1, TribLive) highlights the significance of nearly $3 billion in impact fees paid by Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry, but her suggested narrative deviates from the facts. For example, stating fees were imposed “specifically to offset the...

Why are we getting another surprise major bridge risk now (“Corroded steel prompts closure of Jacks Run Road Bridge in Ross,” July 3, TribLive)? I thought “someone” was inspecting the major bridges after the failure of the Fern Hollow Bridge a couple of years ago. Maybe our leaders and mayors...

How horrifying to read the article “UPMC to stop gender-affirming care for patients 18 and under by month’s end” (June 24, TribLive). This treatment can mean life or death (suicide). President Trump also ended the national LGBTQ+ youth suicide hotline. Since ending USAID, some estimates say more than 300,000 people...

As CEO of Mental Health America of Southwestern PA, I see firsthand how mental illness, addiction and trauma affect lives in our community. Every day, we connect community residents with the lifesaving care they need to survive and heal. Now, that care is under threat. Mental health is not a...

Once upon a time the Republican Party promoted itself as the party of fiscal responsibility. With the current “Big Beautiful Bill,” they have destroyed whatever was left of that imaginary idea. Under the administrations of George W. Bush and Donald Trump, tax cuts favoring corporations and the very wealthy caused...

With the exception of a few prophetic voices like Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde of Washington, D.C., and Catholic Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, Texas, most Christian leaders have remained cowardly silent in confronting the national environment of hatred, fear, discrimination and scapegoating promulgated by the current administration in Washington....

I have a very good friend whose daughter was born with a rare disease that caused her body to grow at a rapid rate when she was very young, and her organs, including her heart, were not given a chance to catch up. The mother was told that her daughter...

Did you ever lay back with a bottle of strawberry Boone’s Farm and wonder what the rich people are doing? Not having contact with a social class of local, national and world leaders, yours truly doesn’t have too many leads to go on. Supine, whirling, dizzy, I’m wondering what people...

Narciso Barranco was tending the lawn at an IHOP in California when he was set upon by six ICE agents with their guns drawn. Fleeing with his weed wacker, Barranco was thrown down, repeatedly punched and pepper-sprayed. (Film can be seen on the internet.) The ICE agents said he attacked...

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts’ view of judicial criticism astounds me. Has he forgotten the very amendment (1) he is sworn to uphold? It’s one thing to encourage protection from obvious or disguised security threats or commentary intended to incite. However, his President Donald Trump and Sen. Chuck Schumer...

I love a parade. I enjoy the marching bands, floats and celebratory atmosphere. I have stood elbow to elbow, layer deep, on a New York City sidewalk hoping to get a glimpse of the St. Patrick’s Day marchers and other activity. Uncounted are the hours I’ve spent enjoying the Macy’s...

To date, 10 Starship rockets have failed to meet all their stated objectives (“SpaceX rocket explodes on test stand,” June 20), resulting in a zero success rate and a cost of over $5 billion. Colonizing Mars is Elon Musk’s fantasy dream, a project that scientists say has little chance of...

I recently saw an article that stated Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering passing a law to teach cursive in schools again. Since when does it take a law by government to teach “cursive,” or what we called “writing,” in our schools? And by what law did it stop being taught? I...

Thank you for your article “State environmental board maintains permit renewals for two Penn Township gas wells” (June 22, TribLive). My wife and I live within a half-mile of these proposed Drakulic site unconventional wells. The article states that “The site is tucked in among housing developments, and about 3,000...