Letters to the editor for Tuesday, May 20

I was heartbroken to read Saturday's front page story about a young man with autism being restricted from mass.

I thank God that the pastors who have served my son over the years have been able to minister to him rather than banning him from worship. Only someone who is raising or living with a person with autism knows what it is like. To be shunned in such a manner, with a restraining order no less, adds even more pain to an already painful experience.

One thing the article did not mention was the reason Adam Race's parents continue to bring him to mass despite his being unwelcome to the point of having his mother ticketed by police. As a fellow parent of a young man with autism and a fellow Christian, I understand. Despite the anxiety-induced outbursts or occasional disruptive behavior, I know that my son benefits from his regular attendance in worship in ways both ordinary and profound.

There were years when our son's only contact with his broader community was during our weekly worship time. His social contacts consisted of bouncing lightly up and down and grinning as loving fellow worshipers greeted him warmly, unfazed when he rarely returned the gesture. With time, patience and many accommodations that look very strange to the unfamiliar eye, our son has grown into his autism and is now able to participate much more fully in his life and the lives of those around him. He still worships with us weekly, only now he routinely participates in the entire service, sings along with familiar (and unfamiliar) hymns, and joins in prayers and sacraments.

During his baptism a few months ago, he spoke clearly into the microphone when asked why he chose to be baptized. "I want to be baptized so I can go to heaven."

Maybe Adam Race wants the same thing. May he achieve that, despite the inhospitable actions of his priest and the less than welcoming environment in his parish. May God continue to bless him and his family.

SHARLA SCULLEN, ST. PAUL

So the CEO of Fair Isaac thinks the way to address $30 billion in unpaid health-care bills per year is to develop new collection systems (Readers Write, May 12)? He has misdiagnosed the reason for lack of payment. People do not "choose" to fail to pay for emergency-room care or on-going cancer treatments. Employers who do not provide health insurance usually cannot afford to pay salaries high enough for employees to buy their own. People who had health insurance until they lost their jobs to outsourcing have no money with which to buy their own. Even those with health insurance often cannot afford to pay high medical bills because their insurance companies make only partial payments or deny payment altogether. Collection systems won't solve these problems, but reforming our system would.

BRIAN KRAUSE, EDEN PRAIRIE

In his Saturday commentary, William Blazar writes that Minneapolis schools can win him over if they "attract and keep teachers with proven success," but don't "tell me you're going to reduce class size," and don't "tell me you need the money because of 'cuts in state aid.'"

Apparently Blazar believes in a world where Minneapolis can attract and keep the best teachers but have large classes and sparse funding (which pretty much translates into low salaries) as well.

Can we assume this is what he's done in his business experience? Attract and keep the best employees by providing more difficult working conditions and less money?

If so, he must be quite a miracle worker.

MICHAEL A. JOHNSON, BROOKLYN PARK

I have been watching the media coverage on the Mother's Day police chase, expecting the usual "blame the police" spin that seems to be prevalent in the coverage of any pursuit. The final straw, however, was the May 14 letter that called the police the "real idiots."

Again, no one wants to blame the person who started the whole thing -- the suspect. He was the one who chose to run, endangering the public.

Let me ask people something: If you were a lawbreaker who couldn't care less about others -- like this guy -- and you know that the cops are going to break off the chase before you're caught, would you ever stop?

Perhaps the public would like the police to stay in our stations like the firefighters and only come out when summoned.

I had a colleague try to stop a vehicle on a cold winter night 18 years ago for a cracked taillight lens. The vehicle did not stop, and a pursuit was initiated. It turned out that in the car was Phillip Cole, a dangerous man who had murdered Hutchinson police officer Michael Hogan a few days earlier. The vehicle crashed, a standoff ensued, and Cole was eventually taken into custody. We never know why they are running.

And, as far as the letter writer, just remember, sir, that it may be this "real idiot" or one of my moronic co-workers who some day may save your family's property -- or your life.

CHUCK SCHAUSS, MINNETONKA