We are deeply saddened that you would publish a letter that promotes violence.
The person who recommends use of automatic weapons to “protect” our churches and schools should not be given access to readers of a Catholic publication dedicated to promoting a message of peace and respect. May Our Lord grant him the wisdom to understand peace and respect.
A Catholic Herald letter by Kenneth R. Studinski calls guidance about what it means to be a practicing Catholic “a list of assumed credentials for an acting Catholic,” however he says being a “practicing Catholic” requires the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.
I reflect that Works of Mercy that are authentic Christian charity are fruits of the life of grace that we received first at Baptism and have and preserve through faith by the sacraments, prayer, embrace of Catholic teaching, and ordered participation in the life of the Church. It is reductionistic to call these things “assumed credentials” when they are profoundly necessary to our incorporation in the Body of Christ and having His life, the life of grace.
This is the time of year when we are preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
We know that for his mother, Mary, her pregnancy could not have been an easy time. Although she knew she was carrying the Son of God in her womb, it must have been challenging to discuss her pregnancy with others, especially since she and Joseph were not yet married.
Fortunately, Joseph supported her. Yet, they travelled to Bethlehem in the last month of her pregnancy for a census and could find no place to stay in an inn. So Jesus was born in a stable, probably not the easiest place for labor and delivery!
Many women today may find themselves with an unexpected pregnancy. We may know such women; they could be members of our families or friends, people who work with us, married or unmarried.
We’ve been hearing a lot about incidents of sexual abuse of girls and women this year.
It is a difficult subject to talk about, and I think many people want to avoid discussing it. However, I think we all have a responsibility to deal with this issue, especially in our own families.
To the editor:
Your recent article on St. Dennis Parish’s solar panel installation is welcome news. Congratulations to Fr. Randy Timmerman for embracing and acting on the message of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’. St. Dennis is leading by example and paving the way for their parishioners and more parishes in the diocese to do likewise.
I am also grateful for the article informing parishes that there is grant funding available from RENEW Wisconsin to assist in the costs of installing solar. Parishes who are struggling to find the time to explore energy options can simplify the process by checking out Catholic Energies at https://catholicenergies.org
To the editor:
A letter to the editor in the November 30 Catholic Herald stated: “Problem does not lie with guns . . .”
In several of the recent mass murders, the disturbed gunman used many weapons, including semiautomatic assault rifles. Without that weapon, many fewer people would have died.
To the editor:
I am writing about John Joy’s piece in the Diocese section of your November 23 edition.
I am concerned that the conference of Catholic educators, John, and others have missed the point of the Bible and the Church. What was given as the “meaning to be a ‘Practicing Catholic’” is more a list of assumed credentials for an acting Catholic but not a practicing Catholic.
To the editor:
This is in response to Mr. Christopher White’s article in the November 23 issue.
One thing that seems lost in all the recent discussion of violence in America these days is that the problem is not inanimate objects like guns — it is the human being that makes a decision to use these objects to harm others.
We just observed Thanksgiving, the holiday started by the Pilgrims in 1621.
As we know, the Pilgrims emigrated to the Plymouth colony in Massachusetts and shared a harvest feast with the Native American Indians who had helped them.
The Pilgrims came from England to America primarily to be able to practice their religious faith freely.
Over the centuries, people from many other parts of the world have come to the United States. My own ancestors hailed primarily from Ireland, Germany, and Belgium.
To the editor:
In regard to the article, on the Lutheran-Catholic service held in Madison, it’s a disservice to lead people to believe that outside of the sacraments of the Catholic Church we are united. Love and unity comes from the source of the sacraments who “IS” Jesus Christ Himself. For this reason, “what divides us is by far more than what unites us.”
