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Writer questions merger of med school, university
The people of Northeastern Pennsylvania need to respond publicly to secret negotiations between The Commonwealth Medical College and the University of Scranton regarding a future affiliation/merger. Sensible connections between medical providers and educators certainly can be beneficial, but the imposition of Catholic dogma on the policies of a public medical school would not be beneficial for the majority of our residents.
More than 51 percent of state residents are women. Catholic doctrine specifically prohibits providing women with a full range of reproductive health care, even for victims of rape. More than 15 percent of state residents are 65 or older. Catholic doctrine specifically limits the range of options available for end-of-life-care. About 47 percent of state residents are not Catholic. These residents could find that the health care available to them in Northeastern Pennsylvania would incorporate doctrinally determined policies to which they may or may not subscribe. 
Why is secrecy necessary? Our tax dollars fund the medical school. We all know that these are difficult economic times; but why not seek affiliation/merger with a secular institution, such as Geisinger Health System, nationally recognized for the quality of its care and its success at cost management?
Make no mistake; these meetings between TCMC and the University of Scranton could have a profound effect on the medical care available in this region. If the residents of Northeastern Pennsylvania wish to live by the health care mandates of the Catholic Church, then all will be well.
 But if there are those people who wish not be have their health care options determined by Catholic doctrine, then it is our responsibility to speak up and support alternative approaches to funding the medical college, a truly invaluable resource for our region. 

Jennie Congleton

Dallas
Reader believes Obama has no regard for voters
Although I&rsquo;m encouraged that the church has temporarily stopped turning the other cheek in regard to being forced to be part of &ldquo;Obamacare,&rdquo; my feelings about being made into a slave to &ldquo;King Obama&rdquo; are just as strong and pure.
 The Constitution spoke about God-given rights! For Obama and his leftist comrades to think that they can dismantle the Constitution without cries of outrage from many sectors of our population clearly demonstrates just how little he thinks about us.
 But then again, his parents seemingly had little love for this country either; and they say that coconuts don&rsquo;t fall too far from the tree.

Joseph DuPont

Towanda
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