President Obama and gay rights, and the economy; Cardinal Mahony’s legacy

Progressive stand

Re “Obama shifts stance on gay unions,� Feb. 24

As a progressive, I have long said that I would prefer a one-term Democratic president who stands up for the liberal precepts of equality, justice and liberty over one who capitulates on principles for two terms of mediocrity.

History will shine brightly on President Obama’s time in office, as he is the first to affirm and lead on a simple and undeniably American legality: There are no asterisks in the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence.

Brian Gilad Wilson

Marina del Rey

Can’t we just fix the economy?

Re “Report sees economic harm in GOP cuts,� Feb. 24

The Goldman Sachs report showing that the spending cuts being pushed by House Republicans would act as a drag on the U.S. economy and would cut the projected economic growth for this year in half leaves no doubt that we are witness to a plan to sabotage the recovery solely to undermine Obama’s reelection.

The party whose selling point last election was increasing jobs is now completely focused on changing the subject to such hot-button issues as reducing the deficit, abortion, illegal immigrants and greedy unions. Republicans will do nothing to jump-start the economy or reduce unemployment if those actions benefit the president.

Carlos Khantzis

Woodland Hills

Economic growth comes from private investment. Taxing the private citizen and then spending that money has nothing to do with growth. This article gives the impression that if the government does not have the money, that money just disappears. No, the private citizen will have it back, where it belongs.

If a government service or program is so important, the private sector will provide it and grow the economy by doing so.

Rich Case

Thousand Oaks

Examining the Mahony years

Re “Mahony leaves a mixed legacy,� Feb. 23

Cardinal Roger Mahony’s legacy, both in Stockton, where he was bishop, and Los Angeles, where he has been archbishop, is a trail of broken lives. While he championed immigration reform and built himself a cathedral, he ignored the trauma of children who suffered abuse at the hands of pedophile priests. Many of these victims, now adults, lead lives of quiet desperation due to addictions and psychological problems.

We recently learned of Fr. Martin O’Loghlen, who was in active ministry and also a member of the cardinal’s abuse advisory board despite the fact that he admitted to past sex abuse. Mahony claims he doesn’t remember O’Loghlen. It seems a stretch that he was not aware of O’Loghlen’s history and that he was a member of his sexual abuse advisory board.

Marie Pietrasanta

Encino

Your summary of Mahony’s career left out one very important contribution that he made, one that I have witnessed firsthand.

Through many efforts — including appointing Fr. Alexi Smith as the director of the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles — he has enhanced Roman Catholic relations with Jews, Muslims and other religious communities. In a time of religious ignorance, intolerance and even terrorism, that is quite an achievement.

Rabbi Elliot Dorff

Los Angeles

The writer co-chairs the Los Angeles Archdiocese’s Priest-Rabbi Dialogue.

Documents, case records and lawsuit testimony show that Mahony’s legacy will be the fact that he shuttled sex-offender priests around California to hide their abuses. That is what the people of California will remember.

That and nothing else.

Brian Haueter

Ventura

As Mahony steps down, his legacy lives on in the students who have received 110,000 tuition awards to attend Catholic schools. By establishing the Catholic Education Foundation in 1987, he has succeeded in helping the poorest families in our archdiocesan neighborhoods who could not afford tuition payments.

A remarkable 98% of these students graduate from high school in four years, and 98% go to college. This is the success story of Catholic schools that serve the poor. For this we are grateful.

Thomas Barron

Los Angeles

The writer is president of the Catholic Education Foundation.

One justice, no questions

Re “Thomas the silent,� Editorial, Feb. 23

The Times correctly defends Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ right to stay silent during oral arguments. The problem, however, isn’t what he does, but why.

Thomas not only purports to have already made up his mind by the time advocates appear before the full court, he also considers the whole exercise unnecessary. What a disturbing thought to have a justice who feels it is a waste of time to hear anything that may challenge his predispositions, while he’s happy to allow corporations to drown out opposing voices in their corruption of the democratic process.

It’s time for Thomas to learn from his mistakes, and, as everyone knows, that starts with asking questions, perhaps even of himself.

John Kander II

Santa Monica

I have no quarrel with Thomas’ silence. Given his voting and constitutional philosophy and his written opinions, his silence is golden.

I am more disappointed with George H.W. Bush, who, in nominating Thomas in 1991, proclaimed that Thomas was the best-qualified nominee at that time. And I am disappointed with the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee during his confirmation, Joe Biden, who terminated the hearing prematurely.

Thus, Thomas’ ability to vote in this court is more detrimental than his

silence.

Henry Organ

Menlo Park, Calif.

Some revolution

Re “Egypt’s women face growing violence,� Feb. 23

I am floored by the systemic hypocrisy here. I’m wondering where all the Egyptian national pride is coming from for taking back a country in the name of its people, when it seems that by “its people,� they mean only its men.

Where is the passion for the right of half the population not to be attacked in public when they try to join their brothers in this “revolution�?

You cannot claim to passionately desire a real democracy when you treat your women like garbage, followed by the nauseating exit line: “Don’t tarnish the revolution. Don’t make a scene. We are men. We’re sorry. Just go now.�

Wake up boys; it’s a new world. You want it? Then step up.

You asked for it: The whole world is watching.

Myrna Gawryn

Los Angeles

Success stories

Re “For-profit colleges face a difficult test,� Business, Feb. 6

At Corinthian Colleges, we work hard to help thousands of students get a top-quality education and a solid career.

In 2010, 34,000 of our graduates were placed in jobs in their fields of study. One of them was Marco Guerrero.

Through determination and hard work, Guerrero left behind a life of dead-end jobs and part-time work to begin a successful career as a medical assistant. So we were surprised when he and our other successful students did not make the article.

Neither did some important facts. A 2010 analysis of U.S. Department of Education data sponsored by our company found that two-year private sector colleges such as ours serve a larger share of at-risk students than community colleges, help more of them complete their programs and help boost graduates’ incomes by 36%.

We think this is great news. We’re sorry The Times disagrees.

Jack Massimino

Santa Ana

The writer is chairman and chief executive of Corinthian Colleges Inc.