Editorial

Ever since we saw the majestic World Trade Center crumble into a pile of ashes on Sept. 11th, most of us have thought of fire as the great destroyer.

Fire indeed has the power to maim and kill. We are all terrified of being burned. We take many precautions against fire by putting alarms and extinguishers in our residences and businesses. We even put fire retardant chemicals in sleepwear.

We may forget that fire also has good qualities. Fire brings warmth and comfort to heat and light our homes with cozy fireplaces and soft candlelight. Fire is used to heat water and cook our food.

Dual nature. In our cultural and religious traditions, the dual nature of fire can also be seen. On the "dark side," we learn about fire being used in war and in conflicts, where enemies are burned at the stake. In the Christian tradition, sinners fear being thrown into the "fires" of hell.

On the "light side," fire symbolizes joy and hope. We saw this with the torch and flame connected with the Olympic Games. This year Salt Lake City used "Light the Fire Within" as the theme for the opening ceremonies. Salt Lake City Olympic Committee President Mitt Romney explained, "Olympians, the world watches, not just to see spectacular athletic performance but also to be inspired by the spirit and fire which drives you."

Fire in Catholic teaching. The positive side of fire in Catholic teaching is described in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It says "fire symbolizes the transforming energy of the Holy Spirit's actions" (Par. 969). John the Baptist proclaims Christ as the one who "will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." The Holy Spirit also appears to Christ's disciples at Pentecost in the form of tongues "as of fire."

This symbolizes how the Spirit of God transforms the people he touches. It gave the first disciples -- who had been cowering in the upper room -- the zeal to go out and preach the Word of God throughout the world.

Mark of ashes. As followers of Christ, we receive the mark of ashes on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 13) and begin the season of Lent. Ashes also have a dual significance: they remind us of our mortality -- we are "dust and to dust we shall return."

They also give us hope of eternal life with God, achieved by lives filled with faith and love. We pray, "Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love." As we are transformed from ashes to flame, in turn we transform the world in need of God's healing love.

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Mailbag

To the editor:

	Mailbag policy We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Limit letters to 200 words or less. All letters must be signed. Send letters to: Mailbag The Catholic Herald P.O. Box 44985 Madison, WI 53744-4985 Fax: 608-821-3071 E-mail: info@madisoncatholicherald.org

Pro-Life Wisconsin commends State Representative Steve Kestell (R-Elkhart Lake) for moving forward with legislation that would ban all human cloning in Wisconsin.

Cloning is the ultimate dehumanization. The dignity and individuality of a person, resulting from the union of sperm and egg, is utterly disregarded -- in the case of "reproductive " cloning where a cloned person is brought to birth, or denied or in the case of "therapeutic" cloning where the cloned person is killed.

Promising medical research is already being done on adult stem cells, and even within the field of human embryo research, "therapeutic" cloning is falling out of favor due to the astronomical expense and problems with gene expression in a cloned person.

A ban on "reproductive" cloning is not really a ban on the procedure of cloning, but rather a mandate to kill human clones. Would such a ban require forced abortions once clones are inevitably implanted into a woman's womb?

While the U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation banning any kind of human cloning, the Senate continues to drag its feet on a comprehensive measure. Rep. Kestell's measure would ensure that Wisconsin rejects the utilitarian and dehumanizing practice of human cloning. We urge state lawmakers to quickly advance Rep. Kestell's proposal.

Mary Matuska, Legislative Director
Pro-Life Wisconsin, Brookfield

Be patient with families at Mass

To the editor:

Please be patient with us! Since we have had our three children (ages five, four, and two), church is the most stressful hour of the week for my husband and me.

We want our children to have an appreciation and love for God and the Catholic Church, so we make an effort for church to be a family event. We spend the ride to Mass explaining the type of behavior we expect out of them during the service. Then we spend the entire Mass with at least one eye and ear on the children, trying to anticipate and stop outbursts and misbehavior.

We used to search out churches with cry rooms. How do we teach our children to sit quietly when the other parents in the cry room are "chatting" while their children run around? The last time we sat in a cry room, two little boys played catch with a ball while their parents discussed which restaurant to go to after Mass.

Please be patient with us. And please give a kind smile to the parents who are struggling with making their children mind in church. We are trying to do what is right.

Amy Rottier, Madison

Need forceful preaching on truths

To the editor:

Thanks for printing Mr. Hal Joyce's letter regarding the need for more direction on life issues. I also have been a cradle Catholic for all of my 55 years and would like to hear more sermons on sin and contraception, which is intrinsically evil. Are contraception and abortion still mortal sins?

We the laity are in great need of authentic and forceful preaching on the truths of our Catholic faith.

Jim Holden, Watertown