Stadium Authority boosts state tourism

The Examiner’s recent editorial (“End subsidies to MSA,” Feb. 28) misinterpreted the Stadium Authority’s budget request, citing inaccurate information about its scope.

This study request is not a subsidy, as The Examiner contends. Nor is it focused on Camden Yards, or even Baltimore, as The Examiner suggests.

It is a first step in developing a means to maximize the use of existing assets — both publicly and privately owned — and yield greater returns to businesses throughout the state.

Sports tourism, and the international coverage of major events, is big business to the communities hosting them. It is a competitive industry, with the most successful organizations working aggressively to land them. There are opportunities — very lucrative ones — being missed here.

Maryland, with its many resources and wide variety of facilities, has no formal strategy or organization in place to compete for these events. The Stadium Authority wants to jump-start this effort. We have already done preliminary research on how successful models in other places are structured and funded.

The sports marketing initiative would begin with a survey of all venues in the state. It involves coordinating the hospitality industry, local governments and other attractions. Once we have determined what is available and what they accommodate, we will develop a strategic plan, in conjunction with the Department of Business and Economic Development, for attracting events to Maryland.

Maryland has invested millions of dollars in sports and recreational facilities. Using them for additional activities increases revenue while creating more excitement for our citizens and opportunities to showcase our state. This enhances the visitor industry, a significant portion of the Maryland economy.

We hope the legislature will grant this request and allow us to move forward with this plan. The return on this investment is substantial, and the benefit to our state immeasurable.

Frederick W. Puddester

Chairman, Maryland Stadium Authority

Hypocrisy marks church coverage

I wonder if The Examiner might at least be consistent and advocate for a reprieve from the statute of limitations on all suits so that people can sue doctors and businesses for acts that occurred decades ago. (“Catholic Conference, bishop fail victims,” “Church hurts victims of all faiths,” and “Abuse victims must not give up hope,” March 3) As I digest the editorials and coverage of recent months, I can’t help but get the message that lawyers and defendants reaping millions of dollars is justice if the church is paying, but is alarming when involving any one else. Such a position has a name: hypocrisy.

Philip M. Wright

Elkridge

Are legal fees more important than justice?

Letter writer Julian Bauer (“Abuse legislation no help to victims,” March 4) has succumbed to a very well-financed propaganda machine, which in this case is the Maryland Catholic Conference and local church leadership.

To the extent that those who have for years knowingly protected and enabled sexually abusive priests to continue abusing children while not warning church members, and harassing, intimidating and retaliating against those who dared complain, church leadership is rightly held responsible.

Make no mistake about it, collusion, conspiracy and cover-up are the correct terms that should be used to describe church leadership’s actions in this matter.

Reconciliation and forgiveness are predicated on admitting one’s sin, in this case mortal. Has anyone, anyone read in any of the thousands of documents forced into the public venue that abusive churchmen have been admitting that they have raped or sodomized 5- or 10-year-old boys and girls? No, they have not.

And yet, supposedly “good Catholics” are more concerned about legal fees than they are about justice and charity for victims of childhood sexual abuse. Unbelievable!

Bauer seems to not appreciate the hundreds of thousands of dollars that are spent each year by dioceses, including the Archdiocese of Baltimore, to retain the best law firms, the best lawyers and the best lobbyists to fight against accountability. And yet he succumbs to the lies that churches and parishes will close, and programs will be curtailed. Unbelievable!

Oh, and by the way, grace builds on nature. The men you speak of should never have been permitted to become priests. And perhaps neither should some of the bishops.

Catherine Mary Henry

Havertown, Pa.