Catholics must punish pedophiles

Perhaps it is time for Toledo Bishop Leonard Blair to focus his attention where Catholic men of God clearly need direction ("Breach of duty," editorial, July 27). His religious brethren in Philadelphia have had difficulty upholding God's and men's laws when it comes to pedophiles.

That would allow the religious sisters of the church to continue to do God's work without interference.

It is a good thing that the Virgin Mary was Jewish and did not have to meet any membership rules.

Lou Walter

North Baltimore, Ohio

Click here to email Letters to the Editor

Blair should leave nuns alone; resign

Bishop Blair foolishly condemned nuns while he ignored the cover-up of abuse of children ("Bishop says dialogue still sought with nuns; Sisters' leader: See wants us to conform," July 26)

The best thing he can do is resign and spend the rest of his life in penance and service to the most needy.

Marina Joy

Ottawa Hills

Safety study flawed, but should be heeded

Dr. Jeffrey Gold, dean of the college of medicine and life sciences at the University of Toledo Medical Center, is correct that there are flaws in the Consumer Reports hospital safety ratings, not the least of which is failing to risk adjust for severity of illness ("Low safety ratings worry area hospitals; Report's information gathering questioned," July 13).

Nevertheless, given the methodology that was used, it is more equitable to limit a comparison of the University of Toledo Medical Center with other university hospitals. Even with this limited comparison, UTMC does not fare well: UTMC, safety score of 28; Ohio State University Medical Center, safety score of 55, and University of Michigan Hospitals, safety score of 50.

Undue criticism of the Consumer Reports article is counterproductive. UTMC should review the specifics of its safety score on behalf of patients, to enhance its rating for next year. Protocols may need to be changed, which could be as simple as revising how it reports data.

As The Blade article states, UTMC touts its ranking "as number one in the region, according to a U.S. News and World Report from July, 2011." However, there are many people who also question that magazine's methodology. The high number of university-based physicians who are selected to participate in the process skews ranking decisions toward university hospitals.

Darryl Lippman

Sylvania

Editor's note: The writer is a former president and CEO of Mercy Health Partners and St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center.

Oliver Stone article a poor choice

Is Oliver Stone a sociologist, historian, or criminologist ("Oliver Stone: Made-in-USA marijuana is world's best," July 7)? No. So why did you splash that headline across Peach Plus and use this questionable article?

Surely there were better offerings available from the Associated Press. And surely you could have provided a better message than pandering.

Robert Sellers

Monclova Township