Editorial

As we prepare to celebrate our American Independence Day on July 4, our thoughts naturally turn to the freedoms we enjoy in this country.

We are indeed fortunate in the United States. Many of us are able to savor "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," thanks primarily to the efforts of our ancestors in establishing and maintaining our democracy.

Tendency towards isolationism. There may be a tendency for us to hug these freedoms to ourselves. I have noticed a trend towards isolationism in more recent years. Some might say this is a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, but I think these isolationist tendencies were growing even before then.

It's been evident in a resurgence of discrimination and racist violence in our country, especially towards recent immigrants. It's evident in efforts to cut taxes and community services, which often hurt the newest members of our society.

I can understand there is an urge to protect one's own family and their needs, yet I think we also must not forget our own roots and the core values of our American society. This includes reaching out to strangers and immigrants who need our help. It means sharing our cherished freedoms, rather than hoarding them for ourselves.

Global Solidarity Partnership. In this week's Catholic Herald we see several examples of how the Catholic Church is extending its arms beyond our local community. One is the Global Solidarity Program [article is in print edition only], a partnership with the Diocese of Madison and the Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga in Ghana. This partnership is facilitated by Catholic Relief Services (CRS).

The second delegation from the Diocese of Madison visited Ghana earlier this year. The delegation found that it was a two-way street. Both Americans and Ghanaians learned from each other.

As one local delegate said, "We learned much about people so full of faith and hope that we think about and pray for them every day. The blessings we brought to them as visitors can be multiplied by your support and prayers for this partnership."

Catholic parishes, schools, religious education programs, and organizations are encouraged to become involved in this Global Solidarity Partnership. Read more about the program in the special section in this week's paper [print edition only]. For more information, call the Office for Justice and Peace at 608-821-3086 or e-mail: justiceandpeace@straphael.org

Refugee resettlement. Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Madison is among a number of local agencies helping to resettle Hmong refugees. These refugees are coming from Thailand, forced to leave by the closure of a refugee camp there.

An article on the local/state page of this week's issue describes volunteer opportunities. To help, contact Mary Sobota, Catholic Charities, 608-256-2358, or Arthur Upham, United Refugee Services of Wisconsin, 608-256-6400.

Pope John Paul II continually encourages Catholics to commit themselves to solidarity with people throughout the world "because we are all really responsible for all."

We Americans can thank God for our freedoms by sharing our blessings. On July 4, reflect about ways you can help in one of these or other programs in your church or local community.

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Mailbag

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Comments on President Reagan

To the editor:

Some points in Jerome Joyce's letter of June 24 call for response. In one paragraph he appears to try to take away President Reagan's part of the credit for his role in bringing an end to (what was most certainly) the evil empire, choosing to instead credit Lech Walesa's Solidarity movement. Mr. Joyce is perhaps unaware of a joint agreement between then President Reagan and Pope John Paul II to provide covert support for Solidarity. My understanding is that President Reagan secretly arranged to provide $50 million and other assistance in support of Solidarity.

Mr. Reagan's military buildup helped drive the Soviet economy to the brink of destruction and his vision helped convince Soviet leaders it was not worth continuing things as they had been.

Mr. Joyce indicates that Bishop Romero and several nuns were murdered by "contras." My recollection is that they were not killed by the Nicaraguan Resistance (which the Marxist Sandinistas and their sympathizers here call "contras"), but by agents of the El Salvadoran government (with which corrupt regime we were probably too cozy, anyway).

Regarding the striking air traffic controllers: they were critical safety personnel and were under a "no-strike" contract. (I would hope that their contract had special arrangements for resolving wage disputes, but I do not know.) When they walked off the job, they not only broke their promise, they also potentially or actually put thousands of lives at risk.

I was in Oshkosh attending the EAA convention at the time President Reagan announced the firing of the controllers. When the announcement was made over the PA system, the crowd of aviation enthusiasts -- the very folks who would naturally be most sympathetic to the controllers -- let loose with cheers and applause. The right to strike is great and important, but it is not absolute.

Richard Bonomo, Madison

The unborn need our protection

To the editor:

Our country which was so divided over the 2000 year presidential election seems to be heading to be even more divided over this year's. Our Catholic Church in the U.S. seems to be drawn into that division. There appears to be hatred by some for one candidate. That is not a Catholic position. We hate the sins, but we are to love the sinner.

Our position on abortion is not an election day issue but the core issue for us. As Catholics, we have options for the poor. We support a "seamless garment" around all ending of life. We support refugees, the homeless, battered women, children-at-risk, the disabled, the prisoner, and the homebound ill.

But as Pope John Paul II reminds us frequently, the unborn require our unremitting support. "So as we do unto the least of our brethren -- so we do unto Christ!" (Mt 25:31-46) There is no one more defenseless than the unborn -- no one more needing our protection and unequivocating backing. We cannot let our concern for the unborn lapse on any election day or for any candidate for any office where their actions may end the life of the unborn . . . or the ill elderly or disabled.

We have a right to vote. But if the present elections do not permit you to vote pro-life AND to honor other necessary Catholic values (example: for the poor and marginalized), send a clear message to the national political system that our vote will not continue to be cast for the lesser of two non-options. We can write in a candidate or vote for a third candidate who is supportive of the pro-life position from conception to natural death.

John Fernan, Madison