Editorial

As we approach the first anniversary of the devastating hurricanes in the Gulf Coast, we can be proud of the generosity shown by the Catholic Church in the past year.

Catholic parishioners have rallied throughout the country to help the hurricane victims in their ongoing recovery efforts. People in the Diocese of Madison sent in over $633,000 for the hurricane victims as well as those hurt by the tornado in Stoughton in our own diocese. This total does not include funds that parishes, Catholic organizations, and individuals forwarded directly to the stricken areas.

Catholic Charities gets involved. Catholic Charities USA reported this spring that its network had assisted more than 300,000 victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, including 87,000 children and 10,000 senior citizens. Catholic Charities has been involved in long-term recovery work to rebuild communities, help families become self-sufficient, and help hurricane victims to overcome grief and trauma.

In a report to Congress, Catholic Charities said it raised more than $158 million to support recovery efforts with over 75 local Catholic Charities agencies.

Government needs to step up. Church support has often been more efficient than governmental programs. Church agencies in the Gulf Coast said that aid and support from the federal government often has been slow and has not been nearly enough to address the incredible need. "We will continue to be the best Samaritans that we can, but we need help from Washington," said Fr. Joe Rubio with Catholic Charities of Galveston-Houston.

Catholic Charities USA has called upon the federal government to increase production of permanent and affordable housing for displaced families. It has also outlined steps the federal government must take to help hurricane victims rebuild their lives and prepare for the future (see www.catholiccharitiesusa.org).

We can be proud of the generosity shown by Catholics in this national disaster. But we can't stop here. We must encourage our government to improve its disaster and recovery efforts. And we should continue to provide assistance to the people in the Gulf Coast area through our prayers, monetary donations, and volunteer/material support.

Mary C. Uhler

Mailbag

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Article ignores meditating on God

To the editor:

Recently I came across this phrase: "To become perfect you have to want to become perfect." Taking in the mail today I found the Catholic Herald, August 3rd issue. On page 15 [print edition only] was a very interesting headline which just fit into what I had been reading: Balancing act: Managing outer, inner life. Oh! Just what I need at just the right time. Well, excuse me!

With no mention of meditating on God, the article said one should meditate by simply observing your breaths as you inhale and exhale. Try it for 20 minutes or so. The article said you can grow qualities like compassion, tolerance, and cheerfulness that way. Isn't that what mediation does for you (and a whole lot more) by considering Christ's life, passion, and death?

Mentioned in the article (to help flexibility, mental discipline, and concentration) are yoga, qi gong, and tai chi, which if fully followed, lead to eastern religious practices.

Should we find such directions in a Catholic newspaper rather than exhortations to meditate on the life of our Redeemer?

We wonder how the negative cultures of our day creep into our lives. Such articles as this, in a Catholic newspaper, is one of the ways. Insidious.

Elizabeth Bach, Beloit