Opinion – Page 112 – Madison Catholic Herald

A one-man play on the life of St. John Vianney will be performed in the Madison and Milwaukee areas by actor Leonardo Defilippis. VIANNEY will be staged at St. John Vianney Parish in Janesville on Friday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. and at four other locations (see details below).

This play has been in the works for over two years, but coincidentally (or by divine inspiration), Pope Benedict XVI declared the Year for Priests in June under the patronage of St. John Vianney. So this play became even more appropriate for viewing.

On August 27, 2009

Jeffrey Gibbons, Albany

Governor, legislature failed to pass responsible budget

To the editor:

I believe John Huebscher’s State Budget 2009 article was politically motivated and does not belong on the pages of the Catholic Herald. The positive attitude this article bestows on the Democrats who control the governor’s office and legislature I also believe is unwarranted.

On August 27, 2009

Charles and Magdalene Sippel, Waterloo

Pro-life work needs backing of clergy of all faiths

To the editor:

As long as homilists in all religions avoid instructing the laity on the evils and horrors of abortion, the pro-abortion forces will dominate and control pro-life forces.

On August 27, 2009February 15, 2022

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Studies validate Church teaching:Living together before marriage often doesn’t lead to marital bliss

The Catholic Church teaches that couples should not live together before marriage. Some people today might think that teaching is old-fashioned and unrealistic.

Statistics show that over 60 percent of couples in our country cohabit before they get married. It’s obvious that Catholic couples must be numbered among those living together and not following the Church’s dictates.

These cohabiting couples should reconsider their lifestyle. Recent studies have validated the Catholic Church’s teaching and reveal that living together before marriage often does not lead to marital bliss.

On August 27, 2009

Anne E. Nahn, Middleton

We should pass meaningful health care reform

To the editor:

The recent debate about health care reform is very important for ALL Americans. The path we are now on is not sustainable in future years. Already we pay $700 BILLION a year on health care which does not cover all Americans, can bankrupt middle class families who face a serious illness, and is very expensive for many Americans.

I am concerned because many representatives and senators in the Congress are in the pockets of very powerful lobbies (AMA, pharmaceuticals, health insurance, and hospitals). These lobbies provide them with money to run their very expensive campaigns.

On August 27, 2009

James Pawlak, West Allis

Plan should not include tax dollars for abortions

To the editor:

I understand that Mr. Obama’s “health care plan” includes the mandatory use of tax dollars for abortions-upon-demand. This is NOT an acceptable provision for many (perhaps a majority) of Americans, including this voting citizen and everyone I can contact.

On August 20, 2009February 15, 2022

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Vacations vital for our health

Many Americans seem to think vacations are not necessary. People in our country reportedly take fewer vacations than those in other countries.

Workaholic Americans even give back millions of hours of unused vacation time to their employers every year! If you’re one of those workers, you should consider taking all the time you have coming for vacation.

On August 20, 2009

Residents at St. Elizabeth Manor in Footville

Seniors share memories with students going back to school

To the editor:

I am the activities director at St. Elizabeth Manor in Footville. For one of our activities, residents told me about their memories and experiences of school. I wrote it down in the form of a letter to the students going back to school this fall.

Keri Mertens, Activities Department
St. Elizabeth Manor, Footville

On August 20, 2009

Barbara L. Lyons, Milwaukee

Support amendment excluding abortion from health care reform bills

To the editor:

Cardinal Justin Rigali, chair of the U.S. Catholic Conference on Pro-Life Activities, said it best in his August 11 letter to members of the House of Representatives regarding abortion mandates in proposed health care reform bills in Congress.

House Bill H.R. 3200 “delegates to the Secretary of Health and Human Services the power to make unlimited abortion a mandated benefit . . . nationwide.”

On August 13, 2009February 15, 2022

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Alumni need to step forward to support Catholic schools

The start of the new school year is just around the corner. Soon over two million children will be going back to school at over 7,000 Catholic elementary and secondary schools throughout the United States.

The past year (2008-2009) saw a 3.5 percent decrease in enrollment in Catholic schools in our country, according to figures released by the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA). There were 78,382 fewer students than the previous academic year.