Charity should begin at home

IT’S a wonderful thing to hear of the joy of the resident priests in the new cathedral being thankful for their new “digs,” and the importance of lovely sculptures and fountains for them to behold (“When Neighbors Spoil the View,” by Larry Gordon, Nov. 12). They must feel blessed that the archdiocese could afford such a magnificent environment to inspire them to even greater acts of charity, and perhaps poverty.

If only their inspirations stopped at their property line, the people of L.A. could worry a bit less about their next county tax bill. It seems almost uncharitable to gaze past the sculptures and fountains from the windows of the multimillion-dollar cathedral and complain about functional buildings when church programs for the needy are being cut, people are being laid off, and the county can’t fund emergency rooms.

Maybe it’s time for spending, like charity, to begin at home, with the church offering to donate part of the downtown space for emergency care.

Richard Lyon

San Pedro