Serving as pope is an exhausting job. The bishops, not Benedict, are the ones to blame | Opinion

Blame cardinals, not Benedict

Marc Thiessen is entitled to voice his disagreements with the actions of Pope Francis. (Jan. 4, 11A, “Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to resign was a tragic mistake”) However, his statement that Pope Benedict XVI’s “abandonment resulted in the election of a new pope” is unfair to Benedict.

Serving as pope, with the bishop of Rome’s many administration duties, is an exhausting job. Pope John Paul II’s health issues allowed his governance to wane, and Benedict observed this.

Thiessen should criticize the cardinals who elected Pope Francis, not the wise decision of a holy and revered man.

- Paul Park, Fort Worth

School safety must come first

How many more school shootings must we suffer before every school in America has metal detectors? Why can’t the safety of our children and others in the buildings be our priority? No armed teacher or security guard could have saved a Virginia teacher from being shot recently by a 6-year-old, because no one knew the child had a gun.

It’s commendable that the U.S. can help others around the world, but how about helping us send our kids to school without fear that they might not come home? Tomorrow may be too late.

- Barbara Suber, Fort Worth

Biden didn’t do enough

I am encouraged by President Joe Biden’s brief visit (photo op) to El Paso. (Jan. 9, 4A, “Biden walks stretch of US-Mexico border amid GOP criticism”) But a serious president would have discarded the scripted narrative, flown to Laredo and taken a helicopter to see the real problems at the border. Gov. Greg Abbott has a right to be more than frustrated with the situation.

- Lee S. Anderson, Fort Worth

Parties not looking out for us

The election of the House speaker proved my brother-in-law’s adage: “This country was founded by geniuses to be run by idiots.” Or as one of my former associates would say: “This is an example of the tyranny of the minority.”

I am an independent voter because, in my opinion, both political parties act on their own behalf rather than in the interest of the country.

- Lorin R. Wilson, Colleyville

Division a chance for work?

Imagine a Congress that is not about Republicans or Democrats prevailing over each other, but instead is about good governing.

It could happen in this closely divided House. The Democrats don’t have the votes to force their ideology, and the Republicans can’t pull their votes together to force their own.

To pass even the most basic legislation will require the votes of both Republicans and Democrats, offering the prospect of negotiation and compromise and even putting the overall good of the country as top priority.

This could be the end of hard-core partisan politics. Just imagine.

- Elmo Collins, Mansfield

Personal info, partisan attack

The Jan. 7 Star-Telegram eEdition predictably had an inordinate amount of coverage of the anniversary of the attack at the U.S. Capitol. It is a terrible blemish on our history, much like the rioting that occurred in cities during the preceding months. Democrats eagerly pursued a “select committee” that used explosive language, bias and exaggeration to highlight the event.

Buried on Page 19A was a short article on the committee’s release of data. In its haste to publicize the results, the committee had released a spreadsheet with personal information about hundreds of White House visitors, judges and people who had testified before the committee. This reflects the truth — it was a partisan, politically motivated attack disguised as an investigation.

- J. Mark Bronson, Fort Worth