We often debate the issue of how much government should do, but that rarely ends the argument. For even when we can agree that government has a role in addressing an issue, we often debate which level of government is best suited to do so.
Our Catholic social teaching can help us consider that question. The tool it offers is the principle of subsidiarity.
Recently, the national head of a pro-life group spoke at a rally. He told of a woman sharing with him the story of the last train-load of prisoners arriving in Dachau after World War II had ended. The Jewish and other prisoners on this last train (and all who were in the neighborhood of the tracks of the concentrations camp) were filled with fear.
The soldiers were gone. The local police had run away. And the villagers, still affected by the horrors of recent years, were immobilized by fear.
To the editor:
Tony Magliano’s column, “Immigration reform needed” (Catholic Herald, September 16, 2010), is correct on many points, but falls short on one of them. In his article he repeats the worn-out phrase that immigrants perform the work that Americans won’t. Nothing could be further from the truth.
There are thousands of jobs that are being performed by Americans on a daily basis that are not only undesirable but downright dangerous. Jobs, such as foundry work, powerhouses, shipyards, oil fields, etc. — most of which are covered by union contracts and state and federal health and safety regulations that make them attractive to an adventurous few.
To the editor:
Jim Massey’s article entitled “Take Extra Safety Precautions During Harvest” (Catholic Herald, September 23, 2010) was timely. I have never lived on a farm, and I don’t claim to be a farmer. However, the article touched me because I grew up in a rural area.
Farm children and adults were my friends, classmates, and neighbors. I vividly recall persons whom our family knew who were in farm accidents. My grandpa had missing fingers from a farm accident. My mother often described the pain he suffered during damp weather.
To the editor:
Kudos to Don Skarda for his letter of September 16 referring to Tony Magliano’s article in the August 19 Catholic Herald regarding the United States’ use of the atomic bombs.
Finally someone has stood up to Mr. Magliano’s comments about the guilt he tried to place on the U.S.A. for using the bombs on Japan during World War II.
We celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4. This is appropriate because Francis loved God’s creation.
During autumn, God creatively works through nature to convert fall’s leaves to a beautiful scarlet and gold. This change reminds us that God changed Francis from a carefree green youth into a committed Christ-like saint. His conversion invites us to ask God to also change us.
Through the ages, Catholics, non-Catholics, and non-Christians have loved Francis. He has influenced millions by his pure Christ-like goodness, love of creation, and joy.
In the last few years we have heard about clusters, merging, linkages, and partnerships. I’m confused — what do all these terms mean?
We all understand the serious reality of the priest shortage and how it affects parishes. The Diocese of Madison has taken measures to keep all parishes open for worship and in doing so new terms are being used. Basically, all these words describe different levels of unity and sharing between parishes and are wonderful examples of Catholics working together to solve very difficult problems.
Cluster: multiple parishes in a geographical location. All parishes of the diocese have been formed into clusters.
To the editor:
Stand Up To Cancer, a one hour television program, aired September 10. The teamwork of scientists and doctors from many institutes have benefited cancer survivors.
The most inspiring, truthful words were spoken by a doctor who said that Steve Hall survived his brain cancer because of a “vaccine made from his own brain tumor!” His own adult stem cells allowed his body cells to “cure himself.” Please re-read this last sentence. It is adult stem cells that have cured multiple diseases, not embryonic stem cells obtained from embryos (human babies).
To the editor:
Stand Up To Cancer, a one hour television program, aired September 10. The teamwork of scientists and doctors from many institutes have benefited cancer survivors.
The most inspiring, truthful words were spoken by a doctor who said that Steve Hall survived his brain cancer because of a “vaccine made from his own brain tumor!” His own adult stem cells allowed his body cells to “cure himself.” Please re-read this last sentence. It is adult stem cells that have cured multiple diseases, not embryonic stem cells obtained from embryos (human babies).
To the editor:
Atheists and their associates in the scientific community have lately garnered considerable publicity.
Stephen Hawking, the famed British cosmologist, is the latest entry. When believers try to rebut them by asserting that God created the universe, they often leave the impression that God is a solitary individual who arbitrarily made something out of nothing.
