Editorial

Right to choose:
Should apply to hospitals and health care workers

Some people may think only Catholic hospitals refuse to perform abortions. That is not true. Very few health care facilities - public or private - provide abortion services.

Why so few abortion providers? It is probably because health care workers do not want to be involved in performing abortions. Most doctors, nurses, and related health professionals entered this field to save lives, not to destroy them.

Pro-abortion campaign. Today, however, pro-abortion advocates are waging a campaign across the country to force all health care facilities to provide abortions and their workers to be trained to perform abortions.

For example, a Catholic News Service article noted that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was planning to force medical residency programs in the city's public hospitals to provide abortion training. And California Governor Gray Davis recently signed into law a measure that requires residency programs in obstetrics and gynecology to offer abortion training for their physicians-in-training, even in private hospitals.

Conscience clause. Congress passed a law in 1996 which provides a "conscience clause" for health care workers who do not want to participate in abortions. But abortion proponents have asserted that this law does not pertain to all hospitals and health care workers.

To clarify the 1996 law, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act of 2002 by a vote of 229-189 on Sept. 25. This proposed new law would protect the conscience rights of all health care institutions and individuals to refuse to perform abortions.

Right to choose not to destroy life. Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua of Philadelphia, chairman of the U.S. bishops' pro-life committee, wrote to House members urging them to pass the legislation. The cardinal said, quoting from an official at an Alaskan hospital forced to provide abortions, "Hospitals and other health care providers have 'a right to choose not to be involved in destroying life.'"

The Abortion Non-Discrimination Act of 2002 now goes to the Senate for approval. If passed, the Bush administration said the president would sign it.

Respect Life action. As we begin the observance of Respect Life Month in October, one concrete action is to contact our U.S. Senators Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl urging them to support this act.

All health care facilities and workers must have the right to choose not to perform abortions. Let's make sure that right is clearly protected by law.

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

I am writing from Ladysmith on behalf of our parishioners and our community to thank you all for the help we have been given after the tornado on Sept. 2 (Labor Day). We are a cluster of three parishes and a school in Rusk County. Members of all of our parishes have been impacted by the tornado.

There has been over $50 million in damage to our community as a result of the tornado. Many businesses, homes, and farms have heavy damage with many more a total loss. Due to the holiday as well as the time of day, our streets were quiet so there were no deaths and less than 30 injuries. Many in our area are calling that a miracle in itself when we hear all the "what if" and "close call" stories.

Also we have seen how God works in our community. Almost immediately after the tornado we had help. Volunteers came from all over our state and beyond; there were over 3,000 volunteers in the first week. The rubble, trees, and moving were accomplished through their help as well as all the food and supplies that were given.

The warehouse that is used for supplies such as food, clothing, household materials, building supplies, and more has been almost completely filled. Tornado relief funds that have been set up in town have been growing. The fund we have at our churches through the Knights of Columbus has almost daily donations. People have truly been helped through all of this. For that we want to thank you!

We have seen nature at one of its worst moments. We have also seen humanity at one of its finest moments. Thank you all for being Christ-like to us.

We may have been "knocked down" in our area but thanks to the kindness of many people, over time we will again stand proud and strong. We thank God for putting all of you here.

In Christ's peace,

Fr. John Anderson, pastor,
Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Ladysmith
St. Mary Church, Hawkins
St. Anthony Church, Tony

Grateful for diocesan support

To the publisher:

I wish to express my profound thanks to you and the people of the Diocese of Madison for your generous gift of $64,031.99 to help rebuild the Catholic Church in Central and Eastern Europe.

As you well know, the fall of totalitarianism in Central and Eastern Europe left a vacuum in society there, a vacuum in which even the Church has sometimes been forced to compete with materialism and consumerism for the hearts and souls of the people.

The Church has relied on her faithful, who have been most generous, for help. Important progress has indeed been made, especially in the areas of priestly and religious formation, religious communication and evangelization, catechesis and social ministry.

Much has been done already, but there is so much more yet to do. We are most grateful for the support both you and the Diocese of Madison have given to these efforts.

Your prayers and your generous participation in the annual collection for Central and Eastern Europe are deeply appreciated; they renew our confidence that the power of the Holy Spirit will bring the light of faith into the hearts of all God's people.

Thank you again for your generosity and good will.

Msgr. R. George Sarauskas, Ph.D., executive director,
Office to Aid the Catholic Church in Central and Eastern Europe, Washington, D.C.