Editor:

Recently, in Ireland, a 31-year-old married woman, Savita Halappanavar, went to the hospital for an abortion. The fetus had developed a blood infection, was dying and needed to be aborted to save her life. The doctors refused because “This is Catholic country.” Savita died.

President Clinton recognized the need to attack the cause, rather than the symptoms, and sent shiploads of condoms to African nations, greatly reducing the numbers of new HIV patients, and the numbers of children starving to death.

The Vatican applied political pressure and stopped the shipments because birth control is against Catholic dogma. They brought suit against Obamacare because it requires that birth control methods be covered. The Vatican continues to protect pedophile priests. It would seem that, contrary to stated policy, they do practice birth control, by mounting their altar boys instead of women.

The Vatican claims Papal infallibility. The above examples of Catholic policies clearly demonstrate the fallacy of that claim. The church claims to be God’s representative here on earth, but I think the God I grew up with would not approve of these policies. Catholicism is a huge international business concern, in the business of collecting tithes from all over the world for its product. Their upper management wears beautiful gowns and magnificent hats to impress their customer base, but their product is suspect at best.

What is their product? That would be subject to individual interpretation, but it appears to have the same effect as a mind-altering drug, something to make you feel good. I would demand proof of the value of that product. I would demand a warranty.

Barrie Johnson, Exeland