A Bishop of the People

Last Tuesday, on the day that President George W. Bush gave his State of the Union Address and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s daughter was charged with prescription fraud, something monumental happened here on Long Island. The Most Rev. John Raymond McGann, bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, died at the age of 77 [“A Humble Man,” Jan. 29]. The second bishop of Rockville Centre, McGann was installed in 1976, succeeding bishop Walter P. Kellenberg. Day after day and year after year, McGann reached out to his flock of parishioners – to millions of Roman Catholics from Elmont to Shelter Island. He was equally tireless in his interfaith efforts. He was a friend of my family’s for 40 years. I first met McGann when I was 6 years old, when he was Msgr. McGann at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre. He was a people’s priest, and I never thought he aspired to a higher office, but when called upon to be bishop of Rockville Centre he stepped up to the plate. He was as at home working a room as he was on the altar. He was witty, charismatic and had an uncanny knack for matching a name to a face. Always. I believe the day he was ordained a priest was the happiest day of his life, and he spent a lifetime doing what he loved. We grieve for Bishop John McGann. He will be greatly missed.

Claire M. Lynch

Mineola

The Baseball-Loving Bishop

There are many wonderful stories that can be told about Bishop John McGann. But here’s one that lingers with a little boy on Long Island.

Years ago, I was scheduled to appear on the bishop’s television show. I arrived at Telecare with my son, Matthew, in tow. When the bishop walked into the studio, he took a seat next to Matthew. They started talking about baseball, one of Matthew’s favorite topics. As it turned out, baseball was one of McGann’s favorite topics, too. They talked about the game, who they liked, who they didn’t and who might win the pennant that year.

Matthew, who thought he was in for a long, dull morning with Mom, was delighted to have stumbled upon a soul mate. When the producer called McGann aside, Matthew turned to me and asked, “Who was that man?” That man was our bishop, our brother in Christ, and our companion in faith. He was as benevolent as he was busy and as gentle as he was genuine. He always took the time to say hello, and in some cases, carry on a conversation with a kid who loved baseball.

John McGann crowned this diocese with kindness and compassion and a pastoral presence that will be remembered by all who knew him. But for at least one little boy, John McGann will be remembered as the bishop who loved baseball.

Pat McDonough

Westbury

Nassau’s Medical Costs

The article “Suozzi Gets OK to Charge for Insurance” [Jan. 29] quotes Legis. Craig Johnson (D-Port Washington) as saying, “Nassau County is a $2.2-billion enterprise, and private enterprises all require a contribution to health care by employees.” A point of information: Not all private enterprises require contributions to health care by employees. It is not unheard of for a private enterprise to pay 100 percent of health care and to reimburse the employee his or her deductible. How many private enterprises pay the entire health care for their employees and how many do not is evidently unknown to Johnson. Has this information yet been compiled?

I am all for County Executive Thomas Suozzi fixing Nassau’s blown budget. This measure to require employee contributions for health care which the same article reports was passed unanimously by our county legislature, may be a fiscally necessary measure. Johnson’s recklessly enthusiastic support makes me wonder when the legislatures who voted yes to deny this benefit to new employees will start paying for some portion of their own health care.

It is time to examine a single-payer system. It is popular, successful and time-tested inmost of Western Europe and Canada, where health care is comparable and, according to many surveys, superior to the cost-inefficient system with which we suffer. The 30-percent-plus administrative cost of our current “for profit” system includes profits for stockholders, denying basic health care to a growing segment of our population, compromising our hard-fought-for employees’ benefits and sucking our budget dry. If our local, state and national legislators could resist the “soft money” contributions from the rich and powerful lobbyists representing the medical, pharmaceutical and insurance industries, our legislators might think twice before selling out their own constituents who elect them to office and pay their salaries, including 100 percent of their health-care benefits.

Steve Sloane

Glen Cove

No Pity for the Taliban

Regarding the letter “What Rights For Bad Guys” [Viewpoints, Jan. 25]: I guess we should just give these “poor” Taliban and al-Qaida detainees three square meals a day, satellite TV and conjugal visits from their Taliban girlfriends. These same terrorists are willing to do anything, including flying planes into buildings in order to kill innocent American civilians. The writer must also be reminded of the great sacrifices made by the police, EMS and, especially, the fire department on Sept. 11.

These “poor souls” only wish death and destruction to our country. We must never forget that the enemy will show no mercy in its pursuit of our total annihilation. I feel no compassion for these murderous people. I was at Ground Zero on the night of Sept. 11, digging through the rubble for some sign of life. I have been to countless funerals and have seen far too many widows and fatherless children.

Patrick J. Kerley

East Islip

Cable TV Changes

Marvin Kittman’s column, “The Rate Stuff: Cable Banks On It,” [Fanfare, Jan. 27] documented a number of reasons why regulators in Washington should give speedy approval to the pending EchoStar/DirecTV satellite merger.

This merger will free up valuable spectrum space so that the new entity will be able to offer more channels at a cost that is comparable, or better, than cable TV.

As of Jan. 1, federal law requires satellite providers to carry all the local broadcast stations in a market if it chooses to carry any. This means that if DirecTV wishes to offer the local network affiliates in New York, it must carry all local stations.

With the satellite merger, duplicative TV spectrum can be put to new uses, including broadband and high-definition television. This benefits consumers, especially those in rural and inner-city areas where access is now limited.

A single satellite firm could use the cost savings from the merger to invest in new technology to better serve this market.

Whatever is decided, three things are certain: The merger review will be contentious, lengthy and very expensive.

Jason Thomas Editor’s Note: The writer is a member of Citizens for a Sound

Economy. Washington, D.C.