Category: Opinion

On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Novena encourages praying Rosary

Early in my life, I learned the value of praying the Rosary from my parents, especially from my father.

During the day, I often noticed him fingering the Rosary beads he always carried in his pocket. He had such a devotion to the Rosary that we had it engraved on his tombstone.

The power of the Rosary was demonstrated during St. Dominic’s time in the 13th century and continues to be seen today. We have learned that not only will the Rosary bring peace to our personal life, but it is also a powerful tool that can bring peace to the entire world.

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Jane Tarrell

Right to bear arms rooted in Constitution; abortion is not

To the editor:

Mary Uhler and Monica Simpson fail to understand that the cities today with the strictest gun control (Chicago and Washington, D.C.) have the highest rate of crime. Wyatt  Earp displayed, in the city of Tombstone, Ariz., “No guns allowed within city limits”. He and his family reaped grave consequences for enforcing those restrictions.

The right to bear arms is rooted in the Constitution for a reason. We the people must be protected from government tyranny. Legal gun use has to be the peoples’ protection. Gun restriction laws are simply ignored by those who intend to break the law.

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On
Bernadette Maurice

Stop long-term solitary confinement in Wisconsin

To the editor:

“I was in prison and you came to me.” Matt. 25:37

The 22,500 people incarcerated in Wisconsin’s prisons are largely hidden. Although the UN has declared solitary confinement for over 15 days to be torture, about 20 percent of Wisconsin inmates are held in solitary confinement each year, some for weeks, some for decades. Imagine spending 23 hours a day in your walk-in closet, almost never having human contact, all for “recklessly eyeballing” a guard.

While 15 days of solitary confinement may be a useful tool for controlling some prisoners and punishing more serious infractions, isolation has been shown time and again to cause and exacerbate mental illness if used for a longer period of time.

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On
Colin O'Keefe

Taking away guns not way to solve problems

To the editor:

In the June 30 issue of the Herald, you argue that we should “Work for sensible gun control.” Ninety-three percent of guns used in crimes are obtained illegally, whereas less than one percent are from gun shows.

It is true that most U.S. suicides use guns, but America’s suicide rate is not unusually high — in other countries, they find a way. Our gun homicide rate is unusually high, but 63 percent of victims have a criminal history — most gun violence happens between criminals.

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On
Ryan Lipska

We need God back in our lives, not gun laws

To the editor:

It seems whenever there is a shooting, there is a clamor for more gun control, as in a recent editorial, “Work for sensible gun control.”

They say guns are killing people. I have yet seen or heard of a gun discharging itself into a person, much less loading itself. People kill people, and yes, some use guns. But guns get blamed and not the people using them. Why?

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On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Peace begins with each one of us

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

Almost daily we hear reports of violence in our nation and the world. We experience sorrow, anger, and fear each time we learn about another shooting.

Eventually, we almost feel numb to the violence. We don’t know what we can do — if anything — in the wake of so much hatred in the world.

Of course, we can and should pray. Pray for the victims, their families, the communities affected, and even for the perpetrators. But what else can we do to bring peace to our world?

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On
Larry Wipperfurth

Don’t take guns away from law-abiding citizens

To the editor:

After reading Mary Uhler’s editorial in the June 30 issue of The Catholic Herald, I felt a need to respond. The term “common sense gun control” has been a familiar headline in the news lately, but when you read further (as in Mary Uhler’s editorial), it’s just another attack of the Second Amendment.

In one paragraph, Mary says, “I’m not calling for a ban on gun ownership,” while just one paragraph later the heading reads, “Do civilians really need assault weapons?” She goes on to quote a Dallas area bishop who calls for a ban on all semi-automatic rifles. Just think if this logic was used against the First Amendment — kind of scary, right?

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On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Work for sensible gun control

In the wake of the shootings in the nightclub in Orlando, Fla., I’ve heard some people say, “We have to buy a gun to protect ourselves.”

While on the surface that may seem like something to consider, I’ve looked into the issue of gun ownership and found some alarming statistics.

Rarely used for self-defense

Most studies show that guns are rarely used in self-defense. When you think about it, unless you’re carrying a gun with you everywhere you go, you often won’t be able to get to your gun quickly enough to defend yourself.

Instead, gun owners are far more likely to injure themselves or an innocent person rather than stop a criminal, according to a study released in 2015 by the Violence Policy Center.

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On
Bill Wambach

Paper should have given more space to article on St. Mary Magdalene feast day

To the editor:

In the June 16 issue of the Catholic Herald, you give four of the five columns on Page 5 to “Celebrating Women.” As the father of six daughters (and two sons), I applaud that.

However, on Page 23, you give two column inches in column five to the story, “Pope elevates memorial of St. Mary Magdalene to feast day.”

In my not-so-humble 90-year-old opinion, this story should be on the front page!

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