Editorial

Rest of the story: Read it in Catholic press

Many of our readers remember listening to radio commentator Paul Harvey's program called "The Rest of the Story." His show gave us background information and details on current events and ordinary people not usually covered in the mainstream media.

This year, the Catholic Press Association of the U.S. and Canada is borrowing from Paul Harvey with its theme for February, Catholic Press Month: "The Catholic Press . . . The place to turn for the rest of the story."

Bishop Joseph A. Galante of Dallas, Texas, offered his comments on this theme as chair of the national bishops' Committee on Communications. "The Catholic Press has always offered 'the rest of the story' and that story always adds dimensions that reflect the presence of Jesus in our history and in our lives," he said.

Challenging year. Bishop Galante himself garnered media attention as a member of the U.S. bishops' committee dealing with sexual abuse. He observed that this past year has been an especially challenging one in the apostolate of the Catholic press. "You who are committed to spreading the Good News have had to report some very bad and tragic news," he said.

He praised the Catholic press for endeavoring "to be fair, to be just, and to be honest. While pointing out the sins and crimes of a few, you have also supported and pointed out the generous service of the many."

That describes in a nutshell what our own diocesan paper strives to do. The Catholic Herald has covered clergy sexual abuse and other controversial issues, including a possible war with Iraq, human cloning, abortion . . . you name it. We have not ducked the tough issues and continue to carry news stories and commentary on them each week.

Good news. We include good news, too. Our Profiles from the Pew tell about the lives of generous Catholic lay persons who contribute time, talent, and treasure to their local parishes and communities.

We highlight the accomplishments and service projects of young people in our Catholic schools, religious education programs, and youth ministry. Isn't it wonderful to see so many young people committed to their faith?

And don't forget our senior citizens, who contribute so much of their experience and expertise to our parishes and communities, too. What would we do without them!

Your link. This month, The Catholic Herald-Diocese of Madison launched its own theme for 2003: "The Catholic Herald: Your Link to God, Church, Parish!" Our diocesan paper links its readers to their faith with inspirational messages from Pope John Paul II, Bishop William H. Bullock, Vicar General Msgr. Paul J. Swain, and Fr. John Stillmank. The Catholic Herald links readers to the Catholic Church on diocesan, national, and international levels and with parishes throughout our diocese.

We hope you will continue to receive and read The Catholic Herald each week to learn the "rest of the story" and keep connected to your faith.

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Mailbag

	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

To the editor:

On January 16, 2003, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith released a Vatican document, "Doctrinal Notes on Some Questions Regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life."

In this document the Vatican has spelled out the moral responsibility of Catholic legislators worldwide to vote for issues that will defend and preserve the sanctity of human life and to vote against issues that will reduce or destroy the sanctity of human life. It says legislators must consider life as a fundamental issue superseding all other issues since other issues depend on the existence of life.

Likewise, in this document the Vatican has spelled out the moral responsibility of Catholic voters worldwide to vote for legislators dedicated to the defense and preservation of the sanctity of human life as a fundamental issue.

As a follow-up of Pope John Paul II's encyclical "Evangelium Vitae" ("The Gospel of Life"), this document again reiterates the span of human life. "Laws must defend the basic right to life from conception to natural death," it says.

Will this new document be implemented in a manner that it deserves?

Charles J. Sippel, Waterloo

Back to catechism of early 20th Century

To the editor:

Seventy-five years ago I was taught in the catechism that freedom meant I was free to choose to believe what the Catholic Church taught. I thought then that this is a very limited definition; I still do.

Years later I thought I noted that the church had a broader interpretation or definition, but the recent document from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith would indicate otherwise, that we are back to the catechism of the early 20th Century.

In the presidential election in 1928 when the Democratic candidate was a Catholic, I noticed there was concern by non-Catholics that a Catholic president of the U.S.A. would be subject to the authority and direction of European potentates and that this authority might supersede the Constitution and laws of our country.

The above mentioned document would indicate that concern was legitimate.

Karl Anderson, Lake Mills

Catholic politicians can't be pro-abortion

To the editor:

The National Catholic Register printed comments from Bishop Weigand of Sacramento, Calif., in reference to the governor of California about his flawed thinking:

"Bishop Weigand explained that one cannot be Catholic and pro-abortion. 'I have to say clearly that anyone - politician or otherwise - who thinks it is acceptable for a Catholic to be pro-abortion is in very great error, puts his or her soul at risk and is not in good standing with the Church,' Bishop Weigand said. 'Such a person should have the integrity to acknowledge this and choose of his own volition to abstain from receiving Holy Communion until he has a change of heart.'"

The Register went on to say: "Also, the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on Jan. 16 specifically addressed a Catholic's role in political life in its document, "The Participation of Catholics in Political Life," which called politicians and voters to be "morally coherent" and not lead "parallel lives" between one's personal and public life."

The party line for the Democrats, for the last three decades, has been pro-death by abortion. After reading this article I am left with one question. How could any priest or so-called faithful Catholic justify a vote for a Democrat, knowing their stance on the murder of the unborn? The way I see it, a vote for someone who guarantees murder is a vote for a murderer or a person who condones murder.

No matter how many other noble issues a politician may run on, you cannot turn your back on something so horrendous. We have to quit saying "I don't agree with his stance on murder but I like everything else about him."

This evil (abortion) will not go away as long as we keep putting pro-death politicians in office. And we do. Fifty percent of "Catholics" vote for a candidate who condones the murder of unborn babies.

To vote for someone who is pro-abortion is to condone abortion. Dr. Laura Schlessinger wrote a book with a title - I would have to ask the same thing - "How could you do that?"

Paul Schulz Sr., Wisconsin Dells

St. Vincent de Paul appreciates support

To the editor:

The District Council of Madison, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, is very grateful for the continuing generous support of the people of the Diocese of Madison for Recycle the Warmth, along with our other charitable work in the Madison area community.

Contributions of used and new blankets in January will help to provide bedding for needy people in our community throughout this year. In Madison, St. Vincent de Paul provides assistance with furniture at the rate of 20 to 25 households each week.

With the cooperation of many people, we were able to collect 2,600 blankets, 600 more than last year, at churches, our thrift stores, and at local ShopKo stores. Without this annual drive, and the support of our Catholic community, we would not have enough to meet the requests we receive.

We will use the $5,000 donated by individuals, businesses, and organizations to purchase new sheets, pillows, and other bedding-related items needed to supplement what we collected. All these items will then be given without cost to individuals and families requesting help with furniture and bedding. Read about our charitable work at: www.svdpmadison.org

Ralph Middlecamp, executive director
District Council of Madison, Inc.,
Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Editor's note: The first name of Donald J. Eckert of Janesville was omitted by mistake in the Mailbag section of The Catholic Herald issue of Feb. 20, 2003. We apologize for the error.