What it means to be a Catholic
As an atheist I find it ironic and maybe a little disturbing that I'm in agreement with the letter writers who support Bishop Morlino (Letters, 8/13/10).
The Catholic Church is what it is: hidebound, reactionary, dogmatic. Its supporters make no pretense about it. In fact, they revel in it.
The Catholic Church, more than most others, expects its adherents to follow the lead of its hierarchy, priest to pope. This is no secret. And if you want to be a Catholic, that's what you oughta do. You should recognize your church for what it is, suck it up and do what it says. That's what it means to be a Catholic.
Or you can say, "This doesn't make any sense. I'm not coming back here." There really is no middle ground.
Frank Huitt
Sexploitation in Madison
Kudos to Isthmus for its Aug. 6 cover story on "Sex for Sale" in Madison and bringing attention to an issue that is often ignored or dismissed. Perhaps an angle to the story was overlooked, however.
Some men and women who find themselves identified as prostitutes may have been recruited, harbored, obtained or transported by means of force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of sexual exploitation. When this is the case, they are victims of human trafficking.
Adult and child trafficking are not so unusual in Madison and Dane County, just under-recognized. Traffickers need to be brought to justice and the conditions supporting trafficking must be addressed by the community.
JoAnn Gruber-Hagen, chair, SlaveFree Madison
