Doctrinal

There are many inaccuracies in this article regarding the teaching of the Church ("The Church's New Colors," Cover Story, Nov. 18).

I would recommend referring to the "Catechism of the Catholic Church" for clarification on the factual teachings of the Church.

For example, the Church does not teach that the only purpose for sexual behavior is procreation. The Church teaches the only place for it is within the context of marriage, as a holy Sacrament. There are many people who are married who are unable to "procreate." And yet, they share mutually beneficial sexual relationships.

Anyway, your article was thoughtful and well-written. It's a shame that the writer failed to research the teachings of the Church thoroughly and therefore misrepresented them.

Kathy Soria

Walley Springs

Push Comes To Shove

Keeping this simple: The reason people are being so deeply affected by the movie Precious ("Pushing Too Hard," MetroFilm; Nov. 18) is the same reason people were affected by the book Push by Sapphire. Three out of five Americans over the age of 30 have been mentally, physically and/or sexually abused as a child by someone so close to them.

For the past 10 years, every person who told me about the book that this movie came from was working-, middle- and upper-class male and female members of this so-called working society. And each and every one of them so identified with the horrors Precious dealt with that they knew and were that girl, no matter how much the antithesis of that they seemed and looked on the outside.

And even with that lead-in, I didn't read the book until late this summer. And at first, I was a bit bothered by how it initially comes across as yet another story of black man's inhumanity to man being lauded. But a few weeks ago, watching Seattle hem and haw about whether or not to open it in more than one out-of-the-way movie theater just like many other communities in America who have been given the "this doesn't happen here" carte blanche to say no thanks to having it on offer—it suddenly hit that I have been finding references to my own life experience in characters portrayed by many actors over the years, no matter the skin tone. From books onward.

Contrary to von Busack's mockery, the movie is not going to be nominated for an Oscar in the spirit of "There, but for the grace of God, goeth I." That movie is going to do so because so many people across so many strata of society live a life infused by exactly the opposite, in private, in pain, through no fault of their own. It will get the nod because even so many of your readers know exactly from where that main character speaks. And it's time for the lowest common denominator of abuse to finally be dealt with and eradicated.

If I can figure out how to be touched by a movie with nobody that looks like me in it because it's singing my song, so can everybody else. And this time ... they are already doing it.

A. Brynner ,

Seattle

Choices

As a young woman, I understand the difficult choices I make daily about my body. I personally do not believe I could ever abort a child, but I do believe that I cannot make that choice for another because I do not walk in their shoes. It is because of this core belief; I strongly believe the government has no place in making these decisions for the people. The Stupak Amendment proposes to do that and more. We cannot deny coverage to a woman who for her own personal reasons chooses to have an abortion. Health-care reform will expand access to quality, affordable health care for millions of men, women and children. It is absolutely crucial we pass legislation this year. But outlawing coverage for a legal, medical procedure hurts women and thus hurts America.We cannot dictate what is and is not covered when currently there are Americans who have no choices because they have no coverage. Church and state are separate and thus religious decisions about abortion have no place in a public option. I have said it before, and I will say it again; We cannot have a healthy America without healthy Americans.

Lisa Sobel

San Jose