To the editor:
I commend the publication of Fr. Jim Murphy’s letter in the December 25 edition of the Madison Catholic Herald. He brought up a topic we, as Catholics, need to consider. I, too, am concerned about the participation of Catholics in unprovoked wars. I think Father Murphy’s admonition of prudent caution regarding Catholic involvement in the U.S. military at this time is well spoken.
To the editor:
On September 21, 1996, President Bill Clinton, an opponent of same-sex marriage, signed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which had passed in the Senate 85 to 14 and in the House of Representatives 342 to 67.
DOMA had two major effects, “No state (or other political subdivision within the United States) need treat a relationship between persons of the same sex as a marriage, even if the relationship is considered a marriage in another state, and, secondly, the federal government may not treat same sex relationships as marriages for any purposes, even if concluded or recognized by one of the states.”
To the editor:
Father Murphy’s letter in the December 25 edition of the Catholic Herald touched on a number of sensitive issues concerning the military.
To the editor:
I want to thank Fr. Jim Murphy for his letter of 25 December, “Catholics should not serve in the U.S. military at this time.” Central to Catholic moral doctrine is that one must form a good conscience, reflecting a prayerful and studied approach to good conduct.
The 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision of Roe vs. Wade legalized abortion on demand for the full nine months of pregnancy. Attempts to overrule that decision by passing a Human Life Amendment have failed.
To the editor:
Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace, empowers and commands us to love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, be compassionate as God is, avoid judging and condemning others (cf. Luke’s gospel, chapter 6). Does this not seem to be the antithesis of making war or responding to warlike actions of others?
This week I had several topics for an editorial. Since I couldn’t single out just one topic, I decided to write on two important issues — perhaps more connected than at first glance!
To the editor:
I wholeheartedly agree with Fr. Jim Murphy’s December letter that Catholics should not participate in the U.S. military when it is fighting an unjust war in Iraq.
To the editor:
I want to thank you for the nice article “Santa Claus Lives on Forever” by Fr. John Dietzen (Catholic Herald, December 11 issue). It was very informative and interesting. I read it and then reread it two or three times more.
It was especially distressing to follow news of the escalating conflict between Israel and Palestine during the Christmas season. How sad that the place of Jesus’ birth — the Holy Land — suffers from hostilities that seem insurmountable.
