Ashamed to be Catholic, Kissing A-- and Salty Jam

January 18, 2002

Dear Editor:

Today I am ashamed to be a Catholic. Saint John's hospital conducted a filthy anti-union campaign against their nurses in direct violation of long-standing Roman Catholic Social Teaching.

In their Economic Pastoral, the United States Catholic Bishops stated that "no one may deny the right to organize without attacking human dignity itself. Therefore, we -- the US Catholic Bishops -- firmly oppose organized efforts, such as those regrettably now seen in this country, to break existing unions and prevent workers from organizing."

In the campaign to organize Saint John's nurses, management, led by the Sisters of Leavenworth, spent unknown thousands of dollars on anti-union labor consultants to hold captive audience meetings and to spread their venomous, divisive spirit among the nurses. How else could it be that 75 percent of the nurses signed cards to join the union, only to have this margin reversed on the day of the vote?

The administration and their anti-worker consultants created an atmosphere of intimidation and confusion, similar to that found several years ago at the Miramar Sheraton and currently at Loews. However, at least the Miramar and Loews have an excuse: they have no scruples, they are by definition amoral and driven by profit; in contrast, Saint John's stated mission is to foster "compassionate concern and reverence for human life in all stages."

The Catholic Archdiocese ought to immediately rescind the Catholic standing of this hospital, and the nuns and the so-called Catholics who administer the hospital ought to be sued in Canonical court for their outrageous conduct.

Every time they held an anti-union meeting; every penny they spent on anti-union flyers; every second they allowed the anti-union consultants ply their immoral, un-Christian trade in the hospital, they attacked the human dignity of each and every one of their employees and their patients. I for one will never use this hospital again.

Kurt Petersen
(Editor's note: Kurt Petersen is the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees local union organizing director.)

January 17, 2002

Dear Editor,

I have never seen anyone kiss the a-- of Kelly Olsen as much as Bob Seldon did in your letter to the editor section.

Trader Joe's is affordable shopping, something that Santa Monica needs more of. It would have been very nice to have another one in Santa Monica, because I can't stand weaving in and out of the traffic calming on Pico Blvd.

Instead of having affordable shopping at 12th and Wilshire, we will probably have some high end posh commercial establishment, something that Santa Monica has too much of. I understand that Kelly Olsen was doing his job (I think), but it's still a loss to the community.

Charlie Reynolds
Santa Monica

January 16, 2002

Dear Editor,

With respect to Frank Gruber's editorial ("Follow the Anchovies," WHAT I SAY, January 11) -- I also once tasted Frank's strawberry jam and it was quit good. It combined the perfect balance of sugar and fruit, topped off with a 3/4" paraffin seal contained in an old fashioned Mason jar.

Looking back on it though, it did taste a little salty. Frank?

Lance Schmidt
Ocean Park