Editorial

After many months of campaigning, election day is upon us. On Tuesday, Nov. 7, citizens across the country will go to the polls to shape the future of their government - and society - for years to come.

One vote makes a difference. Sometimes voters might feel frustrated with politics. They might be tempted to stay home on election day. They wonder if one vote really makes a difference.

We do know from recent presidential elections that every vote counts. Some races have been very close.

"The power of a single vote can be enormous," said Bishop Richard J. Malone of Portland, Maine, in a recent letter on political responsibility. He reminded Catholics that they - like all other citizens - have a responsibility to cast their vote. "Voting is a right and responsibility we cannot forgo, even when confronted with moral dilemmas," said Bishop Malone.

He joins bishops across the country - including our own Bishop Robert C. Morlino - in reminding Catholics of their moral obligation to vote.

Much at stake. Much is at stake in this mid-term election. There are elections involving 435 members of the House of Representatives, 33 U.S. senators, 36 governors, and hundreds of state and local officials. Citizens will also be voting on more than 200 ballot/referendum questions across the country.

In Wisconsin, we have elections for governor and Congress, along with referenda on defining marriage and reinstating capital punishment in our state.

Bishop comes out swinging. Bishop Paul J. Swain, the Madison priest installed last week as bishop of Sioux Falls, S.D., jumped into the fray in his new state. He said the first vote he will cast as a South Dakotan will be a "yes" for Referred Law 6, the Woman's Health and Human Life Protection Act banning most abortions. Bishop Swain also declared that he will vote for a constitutional amendment to preserve the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman.

"We must take stands on issues in the public sphere," Bishop Swain declared, especially when they touch on such core values as the family and the sanctity of all life.

The daily newspaper in Sioux Falls said that Bishop Swain "came out swinging" in his inaugural speech. Let's follow in his footsteps by taking our Catholic values into the voting booth on November 7.

Mary C. Uhler

Mailbag

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

Marriage protection laws

To the editor:

It is my understanding that the following states have laws or amendments similar to Wisconsin's proposed marriage protection amendment:

Hawaii, Illinois, Idaho, Florida, Delaware, Connecticut, Colorado, Arizona, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, Tennessee, Washington, Wyoming, West Virginia, and Puerto Rico.

These laws are not coming out of hatred or bigotry. These laws or amendments come about when judges across the country make changes they have no authority to make, leaving little option. Marriage is and always has been between a man and a woman.

If two men can marry or two women, then what's next? Do we "discriminate" against the polygamist? What about siblings? A father and his daughter? If this sounds ridiculous, remember, a few years ago, so did the idea of two men marrying.

The best thing we can do for our children and our state is to vote YES for the marriage protection amendment.

Mildred Churchill, Janesville

Protect sanctity of marriage

To the editor:

My husband and I have been married for 54 years. We have eight children, 13 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

During my lifetime, I can assure you I have spent a lot of time in the kitchen baking my family's favorite meals and snacks. Throughout the years, a homemade cookie could always be found in my freezer.

As with marriage, it takes the right combination of ingredients for a recipe to turn out. When making chocolate chip cookies, my advice is always to use real butter and be sure to add more chips than the recipe calls for and the same can be said when making apple pie.

The secret to making a good marriage and a vibrant family tree is to combine one loving man and one loving woman willing to make a commitment for a lifetime. With God's grace and lots of patience, that is the secret to building a happy family and society.

Please join my family and I in voting yes to protect the sanctity of marriage in our state on Tuesday, November 7.

Marie Gestrich, Beloit

Vote to protect all Americans

To the editor:

As the population of these United States recently surpassed the three million person milestone, I am reminded of those who are not here.

Those who died on that fateful September 11, those who have recently given their lives in the service of our country in the war on terror, and those who were not allowed to be born.

The numbers of people we have lost in the first two events mentioned are individually less than the daily number of babies who are not even allowed to be born. Over the past 33 years, only two-thirds of the children conceived in these United States were allowed to be born.

Is the young scientist who was to have found the cure for AIDS (last year) among the missing? Is it too much to expect our elected officials to protect the populace? Look at the steps the government has taken to tighten airport security and listen as parents complain that their young people in the military have not been properly trained.

Where is the cry to protect the unborn in what should be the safest place in these United States - the mother's womb? Mother Teresa said that "abortion is the greatest obstacle to world peace" and cried to God for justice.

By the way, who decided that life did not begin at conception?

As we enter the voting booth, let us consider that it is our responsibility to elect leaders who will protect ALL Americans.

Jim Holden, Watertown

Second clause is troubling

To the editor:

There are many threats to marriage in our society, but homosexuality is not one of them. Homosexuality is not infectious, not acquired, and not a choice. Rather, God created each of us either gay or straight, and continues to love us all. We Catholic Christians have a moral obligation to accept homosexuals " . . . with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided." (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2358)

Now consider the Marriage Amendment that we are being asked to vote on this November 7th. The amendment has two clauses. The first states that " . . . only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state . . ." This is a simple, but redundant, statement, since state law already prohibits same-sex marriage.

The second clause is even more troubling: " . . . and a legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state." This clearly is an attempt to restrict rights. It singles out a minority for discrimination and represents an effort to harm individuals in society who are simply different from the majority.

Although the intended targets are partnerships and families created by our gay brothers and sisters, the potential for discrimination could easily extend to heterosexuals including any children conceived or adopted by an unmarried couple. This clause is broad, mean-spirited, and contrary to Catholic Christian values.

Gregory Sheehy, MD and Barbara Sheehy, Middleton

Bring the troops home

To the editor:

Thanks to the Republican Party and their president, we are in another never-ending war in Iraq.

On October 25, 2005, Bush stated more American soldiers will have to die until the U.S. wins the Iraq War. (Can't you remember Vietnam, 1961 to 1975, 15 years, 55,000 Americans killed, 300,000 wounded?)

The religious (Lutheran, Methodist ministers, Catholic priests and bishops) believe in the religious right's lies from Bush at the cost of American soldiers' lives.

Until there is a draft, the college people won't care.

The American people do not care, as long as they have food on the table, TV to watch, a little sex, wink, wink, until their relatives come home dead in a flag-draped coffin. Poor soldiers, pawns for Bush and big business.

Remember Bush attacked Iraq under false facts, not related to 9-11.

I'm concerned for troops, God bring them home. Bush and the religious don't care for them.

Raymond N. Koehler, Watertown

Amendment: rights not lost

To the editor:

Many people claim that homosexual couples will lose their rights if Wisconsin's constitutional marriage amendment passes.

That is simply not true. Homosexual partners are free to do the same thing recommended to married or cohabiting couples. Have legal documents drafted assigning power of attorney to your partner giving permission for your partner to visit you in the hospital, make medical decisions on your behalf, plan your funeral, and settle or inherit your estate.

We all have the right to make these legal arrangements for ourselves and give whomever we like this authority - married or not.

Please vote "YES" on the constitutional marriage amendment November 7 to keep marriage in Wisconsin a union of one man and one woman.

Carolyn Matson, Beloit

Protect, cherish babies

To the editor:

Babies are precious gifts from God. Children make our life richer. They make our communities stronger. The next generation will make Wisconsin better than it is today.

Which candidate for governor can be trusted to protect and cherish this gift? Sadly, Governor Jim Doyle has demonstrated that you cannot trust him. Doyle vetoed every major piece of pro-life legislation to reach his desk. That's why Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in Wisconsin and the nation, has enthusiastically endorsed Governor Doyle.

Congressman Mark Green can be trusted to cherish each precious gift of a baby. Throughout his career, Green has never wavered in his commitment to protect human life from the very beginning to its natural end.

If you value human life, your choice on November 7 is very clear. You can make a difference by ensuring that each baby enjoys the richness of life bestowed by God.

Barbara L. Lyons, Wisconsin Right to Life, Brookfield

'Cafeteria' Catholics

To the editor:

All Christian religions have groups of individuals who are cafeteria (smorgasbord) Bible readers. They accept and reject passages in the Bible according to their own likes and dislikes.

In the Catholic Church one of the groups consists of Catholic legislators who support and promote the culture of death by their voting record. Another group in the Catholic Church consists of voters who vote for legislators who promote and support the culture of death.

Year after year these groups continue to be the untouchables. WHY?

Charles Sippel, Waterloo