Editorial

Last year the United States began to experience an economic downturn. The events of Sept. 11 exacerbated our economic woes, but it seems as if our government has placed a higher priority on fighting terrorism than fixing the economy.

While we should continue our efforts to track down the terrorists and make our country safer, I think it's also equally important to combat an evil that threatens millions of people in the United States each day: poverty.

Poverty in U.S. Despite our wealth and high standard of living, more than 31 million Americans are poor. Youth under 18 years of age experience the highest incidence of poverty. In fact, one of every six children in the United States lives in poverty, according to the most recent U.S. census figures.

The child poverty rate is actually higher in our country than it was in 1979. The U.S. ranks higher in this category than most industrialized nations. We have more poor children than Germany, Italy, France, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Japan.

Awareness campaign. The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) highlights these sad facts about poverty in its new national awareness campaign -- "Poverty USA, America's Forgotten State" -- launched in January. The CCHD is using television, radio, and print public service announcements to attract attention to the millions of children in America who live in poverty.

"December brings outpourings of good will and concern for the poor, but in January the nation returns to its usual routine and the poor are still poor," commented Fr. Robert Vitillo, CCHD executive director. "By focusing on poverty in January, we hope to remind Americans early each year that poverty remains very much a part of American life."

By highlighting child poverty in its campaign, CCHD hopes to reinforce the need to start early in life to provide enough food, shelter, medical attention, and education to our nation's next generation. "If we are to break the cycle of poverty permanently, we must provide long-term solutions, not just stopgap measures," emphasizes Vitillo.

CCHD efforts. The CCHD has put its "money where its mouth is." Since 1970, the campaign has supported more than 4,000 programs nationwide to help create jobs, improve neighborhoods, and allow people to find a way out of poverty.

Besides soliciting contributions from Catholics in an annual collection, the CCHD also provides educational materials for use in parishes, schools, and religious education programs. More information is available at www.povertyusa.org or from the Diocese of Madison's Office for Justice and Peace, 608-821-3086.

While we may never be completely safe from terrorism, there is no reason we can't break the cycle of poverty in our country. Let's make combatting poverty a top priority by educating ourselves, reaching out to help in concrete ways, and advocating for public policy initiatives.

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Mailbag

To the editor:

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

A welcome but largely unnoticed change in the Medicare program should eliminate a form of discrimination against millions of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and resolve a "Catch 22" for physicians and other health care professionals prescribing treatment for Alzheimer's patients.

At the urging of the Alzheimer's Association's Medicare Advocacy Project, a joint project of the Association and the American Bar Association's Commission on the Legal Problems of the Elderly, the new policy issued by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) prohibits the restriction or denial of care solely based on a diagnosis of Alzheimer's or any other form of dementia.

We applaud the CMS for correcting this obvious inconsistency. CMS now needs to ensure that carriers are aware of the ruling so that Medicare beneficiaries' access to medically necessary services and their rights to coverage are protected.

Paul Rusk, executive director, Alzheimer's Association,
South Central Wisconsin Chapter, Madison

Coverage of contraceptives opposed

To the editor:

Contraceptives are not in the category of "health care." The very beginning of the word, "contra," denotes being against something. The intent of health care is to promote the good health of individuals or groups of people. Contraceptives work contrary to the normal physical responses of the body.

Why should people who have insurance policies be forced to pay for women and men who choose to use contraceptives?

Each person has the responsibility and the right to make choices. However, neither insurance companies nor the policyholders have the responsibility to pay for "elective" choices.

Birth control devices and chemicals to prevent fertilization or conception are "choices" made by women and men who wish to prevent a pregnancy.

As a woman, and as a nurse, I strongly oppose legislation that would force insurance companies to pay for contraceptives. Hurray for Pro-Life Wisconsin, which continues to voice truth on behalf of the majority of Wisconsinites.

Sister Rosalia Bauer, R.N., M.N., Beloit

'God the Father' upheld by church

To the editor:

Anyone who promotes the designation of God the Mother in the Trinity in place of God the Father must not be familiar with the numerous references to God the Father in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, especially in the direct quotes of Jesus himself in the New Testament.

Likewise that person must not be familiar with the infallible promulgations found in at least two ecumenical councils: The first Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (325) and The Ecumenical Council of Constantinople (381). All subsequent ecumenical councils refer to God the Father in a matter of fact manner.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, (1994) in the numerous references to the Trinity always speaks of God the Father.

Throughout the centuries the Sacred Liturgy has addressed God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost) in prayer.

There isn't an official document in the Catholic Church that speaks of God the Mother.

Charles J. Sippel, Waterloo