Print edition: 
Bishops don't back current reform bills
A letter correctly pointed out that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops strongly supports health care reform ("Bishops right about health care access," Oct. 1 Letters to the Editor). However, it failed to mention that the bishops strongly oppose all the reform bills currently being debated in Congress. For the rest of the story, consider the following passages from the same letter from Bishop William Murphy to members of Congress, dated July 17, that was cited in The Eagle letter:
"As we renew our long-standing support for reforming our nation's health care system, we must also be clear that we strongly oppose inclusion of abortion as part of a national health care benefit.... No health care reform plan should compel us or others to pay for the destruction of human life, whether through government funding or mandatory coverage of abortion. Any such action would be morally wrong. It also would be politically unwise. No health care legislation that compels Americans to pay for or participate in abortion will find sufficient votes to pass."
Yet just last week, two proposed amendments (excluding abortion and protecting conscience rights) were defeated in the Senate Finance Committee, and this wasn't the first time. If Democrats really mean it when they claim that abortion won't be covered and conscience rights won't be violated, why are they so afraid to include language in the bill that explicitly says so?
MIKE LAWLESS
Wichita
Most to gain
I am disappointed that when rural people have been shown in the health care reform debate — if at all — it's mostly been screaming and shouting against reform. The truth is that the silent majority of rural Americans want and need health care reform that is inclusive and affordable, with a strong public option.
Rural Americans are more likely to be uninsured or underinsured and have fewer choices of private insurance and health care providers while having more health care needs. Though all Americans stand to gain from health care reform, rural Americans arguably have the most to gain.
PATRICIA A. LEACH
Wichita
Hiding something?
Recent letters have been directed at right-wingers lying about the health care proposals before Congress. We have listened intently to both sides of the issue and have talked to three doctors about their thoughts on the proposed plans.
The left and the right sides each think there are lies and distortions coming from the other side of the aisle. Two things bother us immensely: Why hasn't the left allowed the amendments to the bills to confirm that issues are not covered in the bills as interpreted by the right? Why didn't Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee support giving the public 72 hours to read its bill before the committee votes?
In business, we always said that if it cannot be written down and reviewed openly, then something is rotten in the proposals. We just can't seem to trust someone whose actions appear to be hiding something from us.
MERVIN and SHIRLEY SCHRAG
Hesston
Junk mail scam
For the past several months, I have been receiving mail at my home addressed to three other "people." The last name is the same, but the three first names are all bogus.
This is a scam, so corporations can continue to send their junk mail even when you sign up online to limit what catalogs and mail you want to receive. They simply change the name and continue to send junk mail.
So I started calling each company, requesting that it remove the names and address from its mailing list.
At first I called the 800 number listed to "opt out." The recorded message stated that I would have to supply information in order to be removed. I was asked for my name, address and Social Security number.
This is a scam. Why should I give out my Social Security number to get someone else's name off a list so that unsolicited mail stops coming to my own house? This should be illegal.
These corporations are not entitled to Social Security numbers. It's the one thing we're always told not to give out, yet it's always the thing people ask for. This practice must stop.
BECKY FOSTER
Wichita
