Editorial

While our country continues to struggle with issues of separation of church and state, perhaps we should be guided by the faith of our nation's first president, George Washington.

There is a new book written by author Janice T. Connell called Faith of Our Founding Father: The Spiritual Journey of George Washington. The author shows how Washington's deep religious faith helped him guide the Continental Army through the dark winter of Valley Forge to the triumph of liberty and freedom at Yorktown.

This spiritual biography of Washington includes a full reprinting of prayers written in his own handwriting in his personal prayer book. Below is a prayer appropriate for the Christmas season:

O kind Father, continue Thy mercy and favor to me this day and ever hereafter.

Preserve and defend our rulers in Church and State.

Bless the people of this land.

Be a father to the fatherless,

a comforter to the comfortless,

a deliverer to the captives and a physician to the sick.

Let Thy blessings be upon our friends, kindred and families.

Amen.

In the midst of our busy holiday schedules, let's follow the example of our first president and spend time in prayer. Pray that our nation and world will come to know and put into action the peace and love brought to us by our Savior, Jesus Christ, at that first Christmas.

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Mailbag

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To the editor:

In his Dec. 4 column titled "Frankenfood," George Weigel chooses Monsanto's GMO propaganda line as he belittles the message of the Catholic bishops, lay people, and Jesuits who truly work for social justice. GMOs (genetically modified organisms) do not solve world hunger; they add dramatically to the problem.

The FDA routinely employs Monsanto personnel when they approve Monsanto's GMO and other products, based on whatever research Monsanto chooses to present. Seeds of Destruction, a recent book by Jeffrey Smith, clearly documents the grave dangers posed by GMOs to plants, animals, humans, and all living organisms.

For years our family farm organizations have been active members of Via Campesina, an international organization representing over 500 million family farmers and peasants. They totally rejected GMOs when they found they yielded less, required more poisons to control pests and weeds, contaminated native varieties, and caused severe hardship to their livelihood.

Mr. Weigel wrote that "Greenpeace policies bring misery, disease, and death to millions of people." Sorry Mr. Weigel, it isn't Greenpeace; that accurately describes Monsanto's record - past and present. Working with Greenpeace, we find they consistently work for the best interest of farmers, consumers, and the environment.

John Kinsman, LaValle

To the editor:

Recently I learned sadly that Fr. Tim Kinast died at age 49 on Nov. 6 while kayaking near Tivoli, Texas. I remember him as the active president of the student council when I taught at Beloit Catholic High.

Before he entered the seminary, I went to Mexico with him and others as a summer volunteer of the Latin America Mission program (LAMP) that originated in our diocese. Later he revealed his participation in LAMP was a primary reason he decided to respond to God's call to priesthood.

Father Tim asked to be ordained in his home parish, hoping this might encourage others in the area to consider priesthood. Paul Fliss, another youth from Beloit Catholic High was also with us. He was later ordained for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

Father Kinast was ordained at age 36 by Bishop Wirz into a missionary order (SOLT), which ministers to migrant Hispanic people and to the Hopi Pueblo American Indians. Later he served as captain and chaplain in the Army and as diocesan priest for the Corpus Christi Diocese.

Father Tim left his indelible mark on many persons with his concern, faith, and leadership. I was one of these persons.

Fr. Don Lange, St. Bridget Parish, Ridgeway

To the editor:

On behalf of the Reedsburg Area Food Pantry, I would like to thank the anonymous donor of a very generous contribution given to the pantry in honor of Fr. Lorin Bowens. The donor states the contribution was made to recognize the good works and many services provided by Father Bowens, who is the pastor of St. Boniface, Lime Ridge; Holy Family, La Valle; and St. Patrick Loreto.

The operation of the pantry is made possible by the support and generosity of the churches and community. Donations such as the one made in honor of Father Bowens enables us to continue to serve those in need.

Gloria Judge, Reedsburg Area Food Pantry