Category: Opinion

On
Mary C. Uhler, editor

Generous response to Haiti relief: Catholic Relief Services is putting our donations to work

We can be proud of ourselves! People in the Diocese of Madison responded with an outpouring of financial support in the aftermath of the January 12th earthquake in Haiti.

As you can see by the chart accompanying this editorial, people in our diocese have donated over $547,000 to Haiti relief. Contributions have been sent to Catholic Relief Services (CRS), which was already on the ground in Haiti prior to the earthquake. CRS continues to deliver relief supplies to the Haitian people, but it is also working on long-term recovery plans for the country.

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Barbara L. Lyons, Milwaukee

Urge representatives to vote against Senate bill

To the editor:

You are urgently needed to contact Representative Ron Kind or Tammy Baldwin and urge them to vote against H.R. 3590, the Senate version of health care reform.  This bill contains a huge expansion of abortion by using taxpayer funds to pay for health care premium subsidies and to pay for abortions in Community Health Centers.

In addition, there are no adequate conscience protections for health care professionals and facilities that do not want to participate in abortions.

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Mary C. Uhler, editor

Stay alert on health care reform

Now that the health care summit convened by President Barack Obama is over, it seems that there will be tactical efforts used to pass a bill in Congress despite many concerns raised by lawmakers and citizens.

The U.S. Catholic bishops and other Catholic leaders have urged all parties to commit themselves to health care reform that is affordable, accessible, and protects the life and dignity of every person.

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Charles J. Sippel, Waterloo

Latin was introduced as a vernacular language

To the editor:

In the article “Latin Mass appeal” in the Catholic Herald (February 11, 2010), Kenneth J. Wolfe does not mention that Latin was introduced into the liturgy as a vernacular language for the Romans by Pope Saint Callistus between 217 and 222 AD. He felt sorry for the Romans since they could not understand Greek. Latin was their speaking language.

He does not mention that the language of the first Mass, the Last Supper, was Aramaic.

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Mary C. Uhler, editor

Atheists don’t like Mother Teresa stamp

The U.S. Postal Service will be honoring Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta in 2010 with a 44-cent stamp. It will go on sale on what would have been her 100th birthday on August 26.

“Her humility and compassion, as well as her respect for the innate worth and dignity of humankind, inspired people of all ages and backgrounds to work on behalf of the world’s poorest populations,” said the Postal Service in announcing the Mother Teresa stamp.

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Frank J. Gilardi, Ph.D., Madison

Preserve some Latin words but offer Mass in vernacular

To the editor:

On Kenneth J. Wolfe’s article, “Latin Mass appeal” (Catholic Herald, February 11, 2010), I would like to make two comments.

When the language of the Mass was changed from Hebrew/Aramaic to Greek to suit the Greek worshipers, two Hebrew words were preserved: Amen and Alleluja. When later the Greek language yielded to Latin in Western Europe, three Greek words were preserved: Kyrie, Christe, eleison.

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Sr. Anne Marie Mongoven, O.P., Madison

Popes, bishops, Vatican approve changes in liturgy

To the editor:

I regret that the Catholic Herald would lend its space to voices of calumny. Both Kenneth J. Wolfe and Jacek M. Cianciara made unsubstantiated statements about Cardinal Annibale Bugnini, a priest who served the Church at the request of Pope Pius XII, Pope John XXIII, and Pope Paul VI. The idea that he could make changes in the liturgy without those three popes understanding what he was doing is ridiculous and an insult to the popes themselves.

To name Cardinal Bugnini as the author of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy is strange indeed. It would be well to remember that that document was approved by public vote of the Council Fathers on Wednesday, December 4, 1963, by 2,147 Council Fathers voting “yes,” and four Council Fathers voting “no.” After the vote Pope Paul VI confirmed the vote in the following words:

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David Kuhle, Hazel Green

Law encourages children to become sexually active

To the editor:

What in the darkness of Hades has possessed the Democrats in the Wisconsin Legislature to pass the falsely-named Healthy Youth Act (AB 458/SB 324)? This bill requires teachers of human growth and development to make our children proficient in contraception.

I do not want our 12-year-old children handed a cucumber and a condom to prove they know how to engage in sexual activity. Condoms do not eliminate venereal disease and pregnancy, but do invite sexual activity.

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Jeanne Breunig, Middleton

Pro-life message is about conversion of hearts

To the editor:

Thank you for the front page article on Pope Benedict’s Lenten message about conversion (Catholic Herald, February 11 issue). This ties in exactly with Chris Slattery’s message at the February 6, 2010, pro-life rally at the UW Library Mall. Chris said the pro-life message is about conversion.

So, put them together and you get this: Our Lenten journey is converting hearts to receive, and pass on, God’s love. We want UW’s abortionist, Dr. Caryn Dutton, and all of Madison’s OB-GYN doctors who commit abortions, to have a conversion of heart to receive, and pass on, God’s love.

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