In recent decades, Popes Paul VI and John Paul II both promulgated solemn decrees reaffirming the church’s age old, unbroken teaching that women cannot be ordained to the priesthood. In “Ordinatio Sacerdotalis,” the most recent decree (John Paul II, 1994), it was stated inflexibly that the church “has no authority whatsoever” to do so, and […]

If it’s a Republican policy goal to hand a tax break of $4.9 trillion over the next 10 years to businesses and wealthy Americans, as stated in their “big, beautiful bill,” they should make that clear in broad daylight, rather than in a 1 a.m. vote. If it’s a Republican policy goal to fund that […]

Peaks Island is a unique ecosystem. As such, it functions best when its remarkable residents’ achievements and community actions are acknowledged by the wider Portland community, as well as when its residents speak openly about concerns and oversights that affect this beautiful slip of land. A recent short article in your paper gave a cursory […]

With trillions in tax breaks promised by the feds, and every conceivable benefit being cut, Mainers are going to have to come up with interesting ways to fund what the feds cancel. One way is for the state to increase taxes to whatever group receives fed tax cuts. It is what the feds want: each […]

My wife has Alzheimer’s. I’m 70 and she is 78. I am her 24/7 caregiver. I get a break when she goes to a high-quality day program three days a week ($1,700 a month out of pocket). My wife is the best thing that ever happened to me and I love her. I’m not bitter […]

I recently had the good fortune to attend the 2025 Masters Golf Tournament at Augusta, Georgia. Attended by about 40,000 people each day, plus an estimated 90,000 spectators over the five-day tournament, this event required strict adherence to rules and protocol by every attendee. Cellphones, cameras and electronic devices are not allowed inside the tournament, […]

In the 2024 presidential election, did people vote for actions like demolishing the Department of Education and degrading the lives of American children? Did they vote to end the federal government’s involvement in public education? The mission statement of the U.S. Department of Education: To promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering […]