With efforts to banish religion from the public square in this country, I’ve begun to wonder what is happening to freedom of religion in the United States.
The beginning of the first amendment to the Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution says: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” This means that while there should be no specific state religion, those with religious beliefs should be able to practice their faith freely.
To the editor:
I would like to comment on Fr. Tad Pacholczyk’s article on ectopic pregnancy in the October 22, 2009, issue. As an RN I have over 18 years of experience in obstetrics and gynecology.
Ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside of the uterus) is the leading cause of maternal death in the first trimester. Sadly, this is a nonviable pregnancy and the embryo cannot be saved. At times the embryo will be spontaneously expelled and at other times medical intervention is required. The procedure depends on the clinical situation and location of the pregnancy. In early detection Methotrexate is the least invasive intervention.
When she was a 13-year-old girl living in Belgium, Mariette Coffman walked in a procession behind a hearse carrying the remains of Fr. Damien de Veuster on May 3, 1936.
“I remember that the hearse was drawn by six white horses,” said Mariette. Father Damien’s remains were shipped from Hawaii, where the Belgian missionary had ministered to people with leprosy until he himself died of the disease. Mariette recalls that the ship landed in Antwerp and his remains were taken to Louvain, where he was buried.
Our nation is at a crossroads in the health care debate. Congress has spent many months examining various health care reform proposals. Finally our representatives and senators are expected to be voting soon on concrete pieces of legislation.
To the editor:
Here is a July 2008 quote from our new president: “Reproductive care is essential care, basic care, so it is at the center, the heart of the health care plan that I propose.”
To the editor:
The story of Father Damien in the October 8 issue of the Catholic Herald was very timely coming just prior to his canonization on October 11. I wish to comment on the statement made relative to Joseph Dutton.
We laugh when women running for beauty crowns are asked about their goals in life and they say, “World peace.” We think it sounds silly to wish for such a lofty goal. How could one person make such a difference in the world — and achieve world peace, no less?
But upon reflection, I don’t think it’s an unattainable goal. Each of us can do our part to work for world peace. And I believe it’s tied in with respecting life, something to ponder as we conclude October as Respect Life Month.
To the editor:
The debate on health care reform has been raging for months with the Democratic congressional leadership and various committees frantically trying to come up with a bill that will actually pass in Congress. But through it all, two things have not changed:
To the editor:
October is the month of the Rosary. On October 7, 1571, Catholic forces defeated the Turks in the Battle of Lepanto. Thousands of Catholics prayed the Rosary and invoked Mary’s intercession and helped to achieve this important victory. In gratitude, Pope Pius V established the feast which became the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, which we celebrate on October 7.
Some people consider the “right to life” as dealing primarily with issues such as abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia. However, respect for life from womb to tomb must include caring for the needs of people throughout that spectrum.
Pope Benedict XVI reminded us of this wider pro-life view in a message he wrote for World Food Day, observed on October 16 this year. His written message was addressed to Jacques Diouf, director-general of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
