Editorial

Go into any department store these days and you'll find the aisles filled with moms, dads, and kids shopping for clothes, shoes, and school supplies. The first day of school - the day after Labor Day, Sept. 2, in most schools in our state - is just around the corner. It reminds us of the importance of education in the lives of our young people.

Parents first educators. Children begin their education even before they enroll in school. From the moment of birth, their parents and extended family teach children many things. For Catholics, this includes basic tenets of faith and morals.

The Second Vatican Council emphasized that family life is "the principal school of the social virtues which are necessary in every society" (Declaration on Christian Education, #3). Parents are indeed the primary educators of their children, assisted by schools.

Educational choice. In a democratic society, parents should have the right to choose the best form of education for their children. In the United States, about 10 percent of our country's elementary and secondary children choose to attend non-public schools. This represents over 5.16 million students. Of those, 78.4 percent are enrolled in religiously affiliated schools, notes Fr. Michael O'Malley in a recent article in Momentum magazine (publication of the National Catholic Educational Association).

But many other families may want to enroll their children in faith-based schools. The problem? They can't afford the tuition and fees. In effect, their choice is limited to public schools.

As Father O'Malley points out in his article, "it becomes critical to question the development of a tiered system of educational choice that is economically determined and which deprives the disadvantaged of the opportunity to choose alternate educational philosophies, whether religious or secular, that are available to all other sectors of society."

Explore alternatives. There are alternatives we must explore to provide real educational choice for all students. Voucher programs similar to those in Milwaukee and Cleveland could be expanded to other areas of the country. Scholarship and grant programs to assist needy students in parochial schools need more funding.

Our own Catholic schools depend on fund-raising and contributions to help keep tuition affordable. Those of us who have graduated from Catholic schools and/or whose children experienced a Catholic education must continue to support these schools.

Catholic education is needed more than ever before in today's secularistic society. Let us work together to ensure a "faith-filled future" so that all families have the opportunity to choose Catholic schools now and in the years to come.

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Mailbag

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To the editor:

The Vatican recently condemned the legalization of same-sex marriages. The very idea of such unions is preposterous and not long ago would have been beyond comprehension.

The Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments, explicitly forbids sexual relations between members of the same gender. God's opinion on this matter hasn't changed over the years.

Catholics in Wisconsin must get involved in the political process here to ensure that marriage remains only between one man and one woman. Our state government should pass a marriage protection act as 37 other states have already done. The proposed Federal Marriage Amendment should also be enacted to make this abomination illegal throughout our once God-fearing country.

I'm very proud to be a member of the Holy Catholic Church which never compromises the truths of the Gospel. Even in these decadent times in which we live, the gates of hell will not prevail against it!

Timothy Peter Rookey, Middleton

Hopes bishop promotes spirit of inclusiveness

To the editor:

I find it difficult to understand why those responsible for planning Bishop Robert C. Morlino's installation didn't consider a facility that would have allowed so many more of the faithful to participate.

It's sad that only a few privileged invitees were able to attend the ceremony at St. Raphael Cathedral. Wouldn't it have been wonderful if the installation had been conducted, say, at the Kohl Center or some other facility capable of accommodating the thousands who would have added their voice of welcome to the new bishop?

I hope that Bishop Morlino will reinvigorate a sense of inclusiveness during his tenure as our bishop. There are a lot of us out here who long for deepened nourishment from our spiritual leaders.

Let me add my personal voice of welcome to Bishop Morlino. May you have a long, fruitful, and hope-filled tenure.

Jack W. Beschta, Oregon

Sidewalk counseling can save lives of unborn

To the editor:

If you could save a life by sharing a simple brochure and a few loving words, would you do it? You have the opportunity each week on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday in Madison at the local abortion clinic at 309 W. Washington Ave.

You don't have to be extra brave or have a counseling degree. All you need is a loving heart and a desire to reach out to mothers in need and their innocent preborn children.

We cannot abandon these precious babies and their mothers because it is simply not convenient for us to be out in front of the abortion mill.

If you have a desire to show love and compassion to these mothers . . . not judgement and condemnation . . . you are needed to help. Sidewalk counseling is peaceful, legal, and it saves lives.

Working for the giver of all life,
Marie Gestrich, Beloit

Passage of Protection Act found most unique

To the editor:

The passage of the legislation called The Born Alive Infants Protection Act should be recorded as the most unique passage of a bill in U.S. congressional history.

Democrats agreed not to oppose the bill while Republicans agreed not to give speeches supporting the bill. Democrats voted for the bill since they did not want to be accused of being for infanticide. Even the secular press was unaware of what was going on.

The most words uttered about the bill were spoken by President Bush when he signed the bill into law. He emphasized that the living, aborted infants were human beings and should be protected by law.

As a result of the new legislation aborted, living babies should not be left to die in cold steel pans. Undoubtedly some abortion doctors will know that their lack of action with these infants is illegal.

Charles J. Sippel, Waterloo

Thanks for parish article, supplement on bishop

To the editor:

A sincere expression of heartfelt thanks for the placement of the anniversary article noting Watertown St. Henry Parish's 150th in the current edition of the Catholic Herald. We could not be more pleased.

The supplement noting the installation of Bishop Morlino is wonderful and is sure to be a "collector's item" for many throughout the diocese. I can only begin to appreciate all the work and planning involved in producing such a keepsake publication. Congratulations to all on a job very well done.

Ken Riedl, Watertown