Category: Opinion

On
Bernadette Maurice

Stop long-term solitary confinement in Wisconsin

To the editor:

“I was in prison and you came to me.” Matt. 25:37

The 22,500 people incarcerated in Wisconsin’s prisons are largely hidden. Although the UN has declared solitary confinement for over 15 days to be torture, about 20 percent of Wisconsin inmates are held in solitary confinement each year, some for weeks, some for decades. Imagine spending 23 hours a day in your walk-in closet, almost never having human contact, all for “recklessly eyeballing” a guard.

While 15 days of solitary confinement may be a useful tool for controlling some prisoners and punishing more serious infractions, isolation has been shown time and again to cause and exacerbate mental illness if used for a longer period of time.

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On
Colin O'Keefe

Taking away guns not way to solve problems

To the editor:

In the June 30 issue of the Herald, you argue that we should “Work for sensible gun control.” Ninety-three percent of guns used in crimes are obtained illegally, whereas less than one percent are from gun shows.

It is true that most U.S. suicides use guns, but America’s suicide rate is not unusually high — in other countries, they find a way. Our gun homicide rate is unusually high, but 63 percent of victims have a criminal history — most gun violence happens between criminals.

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On
Ryan Lipska

We need God back in our lives, not gun laws

To the editor:

It seems whenever there is a shooting, there is a clamor for more gun control, as in a recent editorial, “Work for sensible gun control.”

They say guns are killing people. I have yet seen or heard of a gun discharging itself into a person, much less loading itself. People kill people, and yes, some use guns. But guns get blamed and not the people using them. Why?

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On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Peace begins with each one of us

Editor's View by Mary C. Uhler

Almost daily we hear reports of violence in our nation and the world. We experience sorrow, anger, and fear each time we learn about another shooting.

Eventually, we almost feel numb to the violence. We don’t know what we can do — if anything — in the wake of so much hatred in the world.

Of course, we can and should pray. Pray for the victims, their families, the communities affected, and even for the perpetrators. But what else can we do to bring peace to our world?

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On
Larry Wipperfurth

Don’t take guns away from law-abiding citizens

To the editor:

After reading Mary Uhler’s editorial in the June 30 issue of The Catholic Herald, I felt a need to respond. The term “common sense gun control” has been a familiar headline in the news lately, but when you read further (as in Mary Uhler’s editorial), it’s just another attack of the Second Amendment.

In one paragraph, Mary says, “I’m not calling for a ban on gun ownership,” while just one paragraph later the heading reads, “Do civilians really need assault weapons?” She goes on to quote a Dallas area bishop who calls for a ban on all semi-automatic rifles. Just think if this logic was used against the First Amendment — kind of scary, right?

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On
Bill Wambach

Paper should have given more space to article on St. Mary Magdalene feast day

To the editor:

In the June 16 issue of the Catholic Herald, you give four of the five columns on Page 5 to “Celebrating Women.” As the father of six daughters (and two sons), I applaud that.

However, on Page 23, you give two column inches in column five to the story, “Pope elevates memorial of St. Mary Magdalene to feast day.”

In my not-so-humble 90-year-old opinion, this story should be on the front page!

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On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Work for sensible gun control

In the wake of the shootings in the nightclub in Orlando, Fla., I’ve heard some people say, “We have to buy a gun to protect ourselves.”

While on the surface that may seem like something to consider, I’ve looked into the issue of gun ownership and found some alarming statistics.

Rarely used for self-defense

Most studies show that guns are rarely used in self-defense. When you think about it, unless you’re carrying a gun with you everywhere you go, you often won’t be able to get to your gun quickly enough to defend yourself.

Instead, gun owners are far more likely to injure themselves or an innocent person rather than stop a criminal, according to a study released in 2015 by the Violence Policy Center.

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On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Take pope’s advice: World must dial down aggression

Not long before the shooting tragedy in Orlando, I read about a message Pope Francis gave to a group of YouTubers from around the world.

About 12 young people who create their own videos and blogs had the privilege of meeting privately with the Holy Father at the Vatican. These YouTube celebrities apparently have about 25 million subscribers combined.

Dial down aggressiveness

Pope Francis urged them to help wipe out bullying and aggression by being better listeners and offering concrete gestures of tolerance and patience.

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On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Facing pope’s challenge to protect creation

It doesn’t seem possible that almost a year has passed since Pope Francis issued Laudato Si’, his beautiful encyclical on care for our common home.

Released on June 18, 2015, the encyclical touched on many of the critical issues facing our world today, including the availability of fresh drinking water, the loss of biodiversity, decline in the quality of human life, the breakdown of society, and global inequality, to name a few.

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