Flood victims
Don't forget them after the water recedes

Last week I talked with Tim Fromm about the tragic loss of his home washed away in the flash floods on Lake Delton. He and his wife, Liz, and their three daughters lost most of their possessions, including many of those irreplaceable keepsakes such as family pictures and special mementoes.

	Editor's View Mary C. Uhler

Although they lost their dream home and their property, the Fromms were fortunate to escape injury or even death. What if their house had been swept away while they slept at night? Possessions can be replaced but lives cannot.

Many families affected

The Fromms are not the only families affected by the recent floods in the Midwest. Tim Fromm still has his job as a salesman, but many farm families have lost their livelihood with the flooding of fields and grazing lands.

	Related: • Lake Delton flood victims -- Faith and good will help family cope with loss of dream home • Agriculture damage sustained     Sidebar: Relief collection to be held

This past winter we had a record snowfall in many parts of Wisconsin, followed by a cool spring. Some corn had not grown as high as it should have by this time. Now high waters have covered many corn fields, reducing or eliminating much of the corn crop. Preliminary estimates put the agricultural damage in Wisconsin at over $145 million.

We have always heard the adage, "Water wins." Water has been winning in the Midwest, wreaking havoc wherever it flows. Dams have failed, levees have been breached. Those of us with a little water in our basements have the least of the worries. I saw a woman on Highway 14 last weekend wading in water almost waist high to get to her front door! I'm sure water had flowed into the first floor of her home, let alone the basement. The structural damage to homes, along with possessions and furniture, must be staggering.

Outpouring of support

In the midst of this tragedy, the Fromms and many others report an outpouring of support. It's not just from family members and friends; total strangers have been generous in giving food, clothing, and shelter to the flood victims.

Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Madison have been fortunate to sustain little damage to churches and schools, reports Catholic Mutual Insurance. Many churches are built on the highest ground in their communities, so fortunately these buildings have been spared from the flooding.

However, many parishioners in our diocese have suffered from the flooding. Among them are parishioners of St. Cecilia Parish in Wisconsin Dells, close to Lake Delton. The parish has started a fund to help flood victims and is offering support and counseling to those in need.

Diocese responds to disaster

The Diocese of Madison also convened its seldom-convened Diocesan Disaster Response Committee. Bishop Robert C. Morlino approved their recommendation that parishes consider taking up second collections the Sundays of June 29 and/or July 6, at the pastor's discretion, for assistance to area flood victims. The local efforts of Catholic Charities and area St. Vincent de Paul Societies, as well as other local first responders, will receive the funds to attend to the immediate needs of those affected.

If your parish takes up this second collection, please give generously. If you would like to give to this relief effort directly, send your donation to the Diocese of Madison, Flood Relief, 702 S. High Point Rd., Madison, WI 53719. Those with concerns may contact the diocesan Rural Life Office at 608-821-3093.

Tim Fromm pleaded with people not to forget the flood victims after the water recedes. Please remember all those individuals and communities in your prayers. Continue to be generous in the days, weeks, and months ahead as people continue to cope with the aftermath of the flooding.

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 702 S. High Point Rd. Madison, WI 53719-3522 Fax: 608-821-3071 E-mail: info@madisoncatholicherald.org

Sorry to see basilica Mass leave Hallmark Channel

To the editor:

From the Web site:

"Due to programming changes, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart Mass will no longer air on the Hallmark Channel after June 29, 2008. We are grateful to Faith and Values Media and the Hallmark Channel for the opportunity to bring you our Basilica Mass for six years. We are actively seeking television broadcasting opportunities.

"What has the Mass on Hallmark meant to you? On what channel would you like to see the Mass? Please send your feedback to our e-mail address basilica@nd.edu or send mail to Rev. Peter Rocca, C.S.C., Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame, IN 46556

"Beginning Sunday, August 24, the 11:45 a.m. Sunday Mass will be available live and by video podcast on www.ndprayercast.org which also hosts a weekly audio prayercast for download at your convenience. Daily Gospel Reflections are available at pray.nd.edu"

Perhaps there are others out there that would like to express a desire to have Notre Dame's Mass continue somewhere so they have to express feedback. I for one am sorry to see it leave.

Joyce Stein, Verona

Look at candidates' views on Supreme Court justices

To the editor:

Denver Archbishop Chaput asks ". . . Catholics to face Senator Obama's views on abortion . . ." in the May 29, 2008, issue of the Catholic Herald.

Although he presents his points quite clearly and obviously would not want Senator Obama elected because of his views on abortion, he should not leave out the alternative if he and others vote for Senator McCain based only on the issue of abortion.

Senator McCain says he will appoint Supreme Court justices with views similar to President Bush's choices. Recent justices have moved to the position of curtailing the rights of the average American, no matter what religion, color, or sex.

The most worrisome judge is Catholic Supreme Court Justice Scalia, who is in favor of overturning abortion rights, but also has ruled against equality of women, believes that workers have few rights to form a union, and speaks out against rights of prisoners and habeus corpus. Worst of all he believes that the president or executive branch of government is above the other branches when our Founding Fathers clearly felt this would lead to dictatorship.

When Pope Benedict visited America recently, he spoke to the need for true democracy for all peoples throughout the world. This is not what Scalia and other justices recently appointed for their anti-abortion views want for America.

Archbishop Chaput should, in fairness, recommend that Catholics also ask John McCain whether he would appoint justices that don't believe in personal and economic freedom and equality for ALL Americans. Then Catholics can truly base their decisions on what they hear from BOTH candidates.

John Murphy, Madison