I am writing to you with an important message regarding a recent statement by Senator John Hickenlooper that referenced a Public Citizen report and, unfortunately, implied that several Colorado hospitals, including St. Mary-Corwin, are at risk of service cuts or closure.

We want to address this directly and unequivocally.

First and foremost, let us be absolutely clear: there is no threat of closure to St. Mary-Corwin Hospital. We want to assure our patients and our community that this report is inaccurate and does not reflect the reality of our strong, resilient hospital.

The Public Citizen report that fueled this discussion did not consult us for verification, nor did they reach out for comment on their assumptions. This oversight is critical, as the resulting information is not only incorrect but also appears to be used to fuel a political narrative rather than genuinely inform the public about the health of our local institutions.

CommonSpirit Health is deeply committed to the health and well-being of every community we serve, and Pueblo is no exception. St. Mary-Corwin Hospital is a vibrant, vital part of this community, and our caregivers play an indispensable role in providing compassionate, high-quality, person-centered care every single day. We are dedicated to the long-term sustainability and continued excellence of St. Mary-Corwin. This commitment is not merely a statement; it underpins every decision we make.

We recognize that the healthcare landscape is dynamic and presents various challenges. However, CommonSpirit Health consistently works to ensure the strength and resilience of our facilities. We relentlessly pursue operational efficiencies, invest in innovative care models, and forge strategic partnerships – all while maintaining our steadfast focus on our mission: to improve the health of all people. Our financial strategies are robust, and our dedication to the Pueblo community and beyond is unwavering.

It’s disheartening to see our hospitals and the incredible work done by our dedicated caregivers and staff become pawns in a political debate. The healthcare needs of Coloradans are too important to be reduced to mere talking points in a broader political discussion. We will not stand by and allow inaccurate reports to undermine the trust and confidence our communities place in us.

I am incredibly proud of our teams across Colorado who tirelessly serve our patients every day. People in Colorado can continue to count on CommonSpirit Health for their essential healthcare needs, now and well into the future. We remain steadfast in our mission to provide the highest quality care to our communities.

Michael Cafasso, St. Mary-Corwin Hospital

Pueblo

Breath of fresh air

Wednesday’s outstanding opinion letter from Tess La Fere was such a wonderful breath of fresh air.  While most opinion letters seem to be filled with complaints and problems that offer no well-thought-out solutions, Ms. La Fere’s letter made my heart glad. 

It is so nice to read about an unfortunate person being offered a chance to recover and then working hard to make a positive impact on the world.  And not only that, but reading the letter made me thankful that a young person can overcome obstacles and hardships and be thankful for the blessings they received.  And even more positively, she is still working to make those blessings even better.

John Wear

Black Forest

Not under God

My thanks to the Gazette for recently running an opinion piece by Dan Nordberg explaining the significance of the words ‘under God’ in our Pledge Of Allegiance.

He states, “They are not about coercion or exclusion. Rather, they are a reminder that the American system rests on the idea that government is limited because something greater than government exists.”

A vast majority of our Founding Fathers had a Christian heritage. Many of their forefathers came to the New World to escape persecution of their faith. In the Declaration they stipulated that the rights of life, liberty and personal pursuits were from God and not government. And the government was designed to protect those rights. They did not establish a national religion. Not all were Christians, but most believed in our Creator God.

They believed God’s institutional designs of His creation were for the flourishing of mankind. They understood the Christian character was essential for the government they designed to survive. John Adams
said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is
wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

For over 200 years, our country flourished by God’s grace because its people
recognized Him, His creation designs and moral laws. The Bible was actually a
textbook in schools until the early 20th century. They not only educated, but also taught the virtues of character and God’s moral values. But then we became so “enlightened” that we began removing Him from all our institutions. We see our moral degradation more every day. We have diminished the value of life, marriage, family, justice, character, education, personal responsibility and human value.

God’s creation design produces order, flourishing, and the purpose of life. Humanity’s design produces chaos, destruction, and self-autonomy. We can continue to seek society’s ways to rescue us from this destructive course, or we can turn again to our Creator God and find favor in His ways.

Ted Cox

Colorado Springs