To the editor:
In regard to the article by Father Pacholczyk in the December 17 Catholic Herald: “A Higher Standard than for cats and dogs”:
In his article, Father P. writes about the challenges of suffering for humans.I am absolutely aghast that he cites Victoria Kennedy, widow of Ted Kennedy, and devotes no less than six column inches to her quoted words about her husband’s final months.
Then in the following paragraph, he talks about the “limits that suffering imposes.”
On July 18, 1969, this same Ted Kennedy crashed his car off a bridge in Chappaquiddick, leaving Mary Jo Kopechne, his passenger, to die submerged in the deep water in the dead of night, not even reporting the accident until the following morning.
What about the limits that suffering imposed on Mary Jo Kopechne?
Father Pacholczyk was born in 1965 and so does not remember this event. That is no excuse. To hold Kennedy up as an example of noble suffering is beyond belief. I urge Father Pacholczyk to choose his examples more carefully next time.
Until now, I have enjoyed reading his articles in the Herald. Now, in my view he has lost all credibility. I will no longer read what he says.
Maribeth DeRocher, Waunakee