I write in response to William LaRochelle’s letter, regarding the “Catholic Church’s stance on homosexuality,” published Feb. 11. As Mr. LaRochelle notes, Catholic bishops are now calling for a fundamental revision of the Catholic Church’s sexual teaching. Those who know history are aware that the church has changed its teachings, even radically, but ever so […]

As a Vietnam War veteran and a member of Veterans For Peace as well as World Beyond War, I become enraged at governments who are unable to settle their differences without going to war. Here we are on the cusp of war, with Russia threatening the invasion into Ukraine. Russia is moving in soldiers and […]

The American summer of 2020 was marked by riots, many of which — night after night all season — took place in Seattle, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. Film of the many riots shows that many of the participants were not wearing the masks —which were de rigueur that summer — unless, of course, they were […]

I wonder, does the Republican National Committee’s censure of their members show the GOP is a cult? Who could have guessed? The definition of a cult, according to Wikipedia, a cult is: “a social group that is defined by its unusual . . . philosophical beliefs, or its common interest in a particular personality.” Wow. […]

It was sad for me to see the article about state Rep. Bruce Bickford’s bill, LD 1884, which would have the Legislature strip away the income requirement in Auburn’s agricultural zone. It’s sad because the zone was established so long ago (1964) with the idea that it would protect farmers from encroaching residential development, and […]

This is as unacceptable as it gets. COVID is already wreaking havoc in our everyday lives even now, two years into it, and now we have bus drivers quitting due to poor management, being berated and problems not being addressed, let alone solved? We also have a manager who is licensed to drive a bus, […]

When does a housing crisis become a land grab for developers? Answer: When LD 1884 allows a statewide housing shortage to make null and void decades of Auburn residents’ due process in determining Auburn land use. Auburn residents have chosen multiple times to protect the 18,000 acres (down from 35,000) of farmland since 1964 from […]

This session the Maine Legislature’s Environment and Natural Resources Committee, on which I serve, has devoted a lot of time and energy to the emerging crisis of PFAS contamination. Also known as “forever chemicals,” this class of persistent cancer-causing chemicals is a threat to public health, and we now know that our state has extensive […]

The Build Back Better Act is being held hostage by Republicans (all 50 senators including Susan Collins) and two Democratic senators, and by antiquated filibuster rules. Many important policies and programs in the act — like the child tax credit and immigration reform — have already been removed, and they all need to find a […]

It was reported recently that Jean-Claude Hollerich, a preeminent German bishop and cardinal, stated publicly that Catholic teaching on homosexuality is “no longer correct” and that “a fundamental revision of the doctrine” is imperative. Unsurprisingly, he buttressed his judgment by emphasizing that Pope Francis himself favors far-reaching doctrinal change generally. The pope’s barely-there pro forma […]