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Same old story: Men and religion try to dictate to women
To the editor:
Having been raised as a conservative Midwestern Catholic and later, as a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), I feel that I can comment on the Romney/Ryan stance on women’s reproductive rights, based on their religious persuasions. I’ve been there, I’ve done that.
During the 1950s, in a world where Roman Catholics were probably more obedient to the Pope’s dictates than they are today, I watched my parents struggle with the “no birth control” policy. My mother suffered from one miscarriage after another and the “rhythm” method didn’t seem to work. My mother suffered an agonizing period of reproductive years due to the theology and dictates of a patriarchal religion in which men determined a woman’s reproductive rights.
Later, having converted to the Mormon Church during my own child-bearing years, I was once again subjected to a church’s theological dictates of using no birth control and the subtle conditioning that a woman’s main worth was in bringing forth children (often once a year). Of course abortion in both religions was a forbidden topic and a deadly sin.
The religious inspired political stances of both Romney (Mormon) and Ryan (conservative Catholic) would take us back to the 1950s and centuries previous when women had no rights to rule their own bodies.
Both religions and both politicians would have us believe that a woman is not capable of making informed choices for the best of her own physical health, her emotional and mental well-being, her family and her future. Instead, churches, which are patriarchal, without women in the priesthood, still assert that God can only talk to men about such important things as theology, life and a woman’s reproductive rights.
Judith McLean
Waynesboro, Pa.
Good people to have in an emergency
To the editor:
In July, my 4-year-old granddaughter needed emergency medical help. The 911 operator dispatched the Williamsport Ambulance Co. and stayed on the phone with me until the ambulance arrived. It was extremely comforting to know that I wasn’t totally alone.
The female EMT made sure that I was comforted during this emotional and stressful time. I’m sorry that I did not get her name, but I want to express my heartfelt thanks for her care of my granddaughter.
When my granddaughter was transferred to the helicopter, I was unable to go with her. The paramedic named Terry offered to drive me to Children’s Medical Center in Washington, D.C. I cannot thank these three individuals enough for their care and comfort on this day. They went well above and beyond for my family.
My granddaughter is fine.
Thanks to the Williamsport ambulance and EMT team. It’s nice to know that our family will be taken care of when the need arises. God Bless!
Debbie Boward
Williamsport
Capito’s statements don’t add up
To the editor:
Having been raised as a conservative Midwestern Catholic and later, as a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), I feel that I can comment on the Romney/Ryan stance on women’s reproductive rights, based on their religious persuasions. I’ve been there, I’ve done that.
During the 1950s, in a world where Roman Catholics were probably more obedient to the Pope’s dictates than they are today, I watched my parents struggle with the “no birth control” policy. My mother suffered from one miscarriage after another and the “rhythm” method didn’t seem to work. My mother suffered an agonizing period of reproductive years due to the theology and dictates of a patriarchal religion in which men determined a woman’s reproductive rights.
Later, having converted to the Mormon Church during my own child-bearing years, I was once again subjected to a church’s theological dictates of using no birth control and the subtle conditioning that a woman’s main worth was in bringing forth children (often once a year). Of course abortion in both religions was a forbidden topic and a deadly sin.
The religious inspired political stances of both Romney (Mormon) and Ryan (conservative Catholic) would take us back to the 1950s and centuries previous when women had no rights to rule their own bodies.
Both religions and both politicians would have us believe that a woman is not capable of making informed choices for the best of her own physical health, her emotional and mental well-being, her family and her future. Instead, churches, which are patriarchal, without women in the priesthood, still assert that God can only talk to men about such important things as theology, life and a woman’s reproductive rights.
Judith McLean
Waynesboro, Pa.
Good people to have in an emergency
To the editor:
In July, my 4-year-old granddaughter needed emergency medical help. The 911 operator dispatched the Williamsport Ambulance Co. and stayed on the phone with me until the ambulance arrived. It was extremely comforting to know that I wasn’t totally alone.
The female EMT made sure that I was comforted during this emotional and stressful time. I’m sorry that I did not get her name, but I want to express my heartfelt thanks for her care of my granddaughter.
When my granddaughter was transferred to the helicopter, I was unable to go with her. The paramedic named Terry offered to drive me to Children’s Medical Center in Washington, D.C. I cannot thank these three individuals enough for their care and comfort on this day. They went well above and beyond for my family.
My granddaughter is fine.
Thanks to the Williamsport ambulance and EMT team. It’s nice to know that our family will be taken care of when the need arises. God Bless!
Debbie Boward
Williamsport
Capito’s statements don’t add up
