Editorial

Just last summer, St. Mary Parish in the tiny community of Pine Bluff outside Madison celebrated its 150th anniversary. The Catholic church is the center of the community, settled by mostly Catholics of German and Irish descent.

I attended the anniversary Mass in the beautifully restored church in Pine Bluff. With people participating enthusiastically at the Mass, Bishop Robert C. Morlino remarked, "It looks to me like the faith is alive and well here."

Opening of strip club. Now that faith is being tested by the opening of a strip club in this family-oriented community of Pine Bluff. The Hot Rods club opened in Kitt's Korner Bar and Grill on Feb. 11 near the intersection of Hwy. P and Mineral Point Rd. This happened less than a week before the Dane County Board approved a law that would have prevented an adult-entertainment establishment from operating at that site.

Now Pine Bluff residents - many of them faithful Catholics - are vowing to fight the presence of the strip club in their community. It will be an uphill fight. Concerned citizens learned that local governments can refuse to issue an initial liquor license but can't revoke one simply because they don't like what's going on inside the building.

	Related article: • Prayer Mile: Held March 20 in Pine Bluff

Citizens fight back with prayer. So what can the people of Pine Bluff do? They have decided to fight back with prayer! And they are asking other concerned citizens to join them in what they're calling a "Prayer Mile": a one-mile Stations of the Cross prayer walk on Palm Sunday, March 20, starting at 12 noon at St. Mary Church in Pine Bluff.

"By going this 'extra mile,' we are demonstrating the seriousness of our desire to be freed from this monument to indecency and all of the corrupting effects that will soon follow," said a poster advertising the Prayer Mile.

Parishioners note that Palm Sunday celebrates Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem. "By beginning these walks on this special day, we are saying that we are inviting Our Lord to come and reside in our community. After this day, our plan is to call upon all to come and pray in this way at any time, day or night, until this community's innocence and beautiful family atmosphere are restored."

The people of Pine Bluff hope that one day this area in Pine Bluff will be called the "Miracle Mile."

Campaign against pornography. They are joining forces with the international WRAP (White Ribbon Against Pornography) campaign, which has been fighting against pornography since 1988. The people of Pine Bluff will be distributing white lapel ribbons and white bows for car antennas, mailboxes, or front doors. Once people reach the 12th Station on Palm Sunday - at the foot of the cross in the St. Mary's cemetery - they will tie their ribbons there as a way of offering their petitions to the Lord.

I encourage concerned citizens to join in the Prayer Mile. If you can't get to Pine Bluff this Sunday, pay a visit to the Prayer Mile at another time. Or pray in your own area for the people of Pine Bluff and our entire society to eliminate pornography and safeguard moral values in our communities.

Public hearing. Some suggested changes in the new Dane County adult entertainment ordinance will be discussed at a public hearing on March 21 conducted by the County Board's Zoning and Land Regulation Committee in the City-County Building in Madison (no time announced yet). Check the Web site at www.co.dane.wi.us for further details.

Residents in Dane County concerned about the possible presence of strip clubs in their own communities are advised to study the ordinance and give their feedback - before it's too late. Just ask the people of Pine Bluff.

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Mailbag

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Petition for universal health care

To the editor:

I was very pleased to read Kathy Markeland's firm statement in the Wisconsin Catholic Conference's new Capitol Report supplement [print edition only] that "the U.S. bishops have articulated time and time again that health care is a right."

Making this right into a reality is the mission of the Coalition for Wisconsin Health. We have hundreds of individual members across the state as well as 60 organizational members.

Readers can help the effort to obtain universal health care coverage by taking part in our coalition's new petition drive. The petition can be read and printed at our Web site, www.wisconsinhealth.org. We would also be happy to mail a copy to anyone who phones us at 608-663-8322.

Art Taggart, Chair, Coalition for Wisconsin Health

Present both sides of Cuba story

To the editor:

Wow! I just got done perusing the article about Fr. Wanish's trip to Cuba (March 3 issue [print edition only]). It sounds like paradise on earth. Perhaps we should nominate Fidel for the Nobel Peace Prize. What garbage!

How about interviewing some of the many thousands of Cuban refugees who fled that "wonderful" country to see if they agree with Father Wanish. It's hard to believe that a priest could be so gullible as to believe that he saw the real Cuba. You owe it to your readers to present both sides.

Wayne Sutter, Blue Mounds