Holier than thou
Dave Cieslewicz's critique of the Most Rev. Robert Morlino is completely void of any understanding of the Holy Church ("They Have Major Decisions to Make in 2014," 1/10/2014). He doesn't even understand the context of the quotes that our Holy Father has given us. As a columnist, one would think he would do the necessary background before launching into a diatribe.
The Most Rev. Morlino is a spiritual leader to be respected. One wonders why Cieslewicz would care so much about how our local church is administered if he hasn't been a member since his childhood. If "listless liberal Catholics" don't find joy in the gospel and the teaching of the Church, they should look within themselves. This isn't a product of our local Ordinary. I suggest Cieslewicz stay out of Church administration; it's way above his pay grade.
James W. Brager
Dave Cieslewicz replies: The Catholic Diocese, with its neighborhood churches, thousands of parishioners and charities, is an important institution in our community regardless of whether or not one is a practicing member.
Drinking, pro and con
Given the subject of your Jan. 3 cover feature, "Drunk Wisconsin," it was disappointing to pick up the Jan. 17 Isthmus and see you enabling Wisconsin's drinking problem with three feature articles about beer, the weekly Beer Here column, and a full-page ad (and half of Vincent O'Hern's column) promoting your Beer & Cheese Fest. Why not throw the power of your press behind implementing Alan Talaga and Jon Lyons' sensible recommendations to change this state's dangerous drinking culture, instead of using it to encourage people to drink more?
John Heaton
I was surprised to find that "Drunk Wisconsin" was actually an opinion piece in cartoon form. The disdain shown for common elements of Wisconsin culture was remarkable.
The authors felt compelled to rail against people getting together in taverns and drinking alcohol. They were driven to speak out against college students partying. They would like to suppress community beer festivals. And they don't feel people should eat so much cheese. My, my -- it is all just so distasteful and uncool, isn't it? If only these Wisconsin fools could be more respectable, like the authors, right?
I will admit I enjoyed the incongruity of a newspaper that constantly celebrates Wisconsin food, drink, entertainment and partying featuring a moralistic diatribe against those very topics.
Steve Johnston, Fitchburg
Editor Dean Robbins replies: Isthmus has no problem with people drinking as long as they do so responsibly. As Talaga and Lyons said in their story, "we're not supporting Prohibition."
