Opinion – Page 91 – Madison Catholic Herald

In June of 1986, Bishop Cletus F. O’Donnell announced that Msgr. Andrew R. Breines was retiring as editor of the Catholic Herald and he named me as the new editor. I am only the second editor in the 63-year history of the Diocese of Madison’s official newspaper, since Monsignor Breines served in that capacity for 38 years. I might not match his longevity!

My first editorial thanked my predecessor for his many years of faithful service. I said Monsignor Breines “was always cautious to avoid the easy labels of ‘liberal’ and ‘conservative’ often used in the secular media. His writing illuminated without polarizing and attempted to show various sides of complex issues while remaining true to those Church teachings which are clear and unambiguous.”

I pledged that our paper would continue “to enlighten and educate as it has done under his leadership.” Hopefully I have done that over the past 25 years in a time of continuing change in the Church, world, and publishing business.

On June 23, 2011

Bill Dagnon

Suggests more instruction on Catholic social teaching

To the editor:

After rereading Father Sirico’s column and all the letters published in your paper (Catholic Herald) concerning the growing financial and social gap in the United States, I have a suggestion. Please consider locating a writer who has in-depth knowledge of Catholic social teaching to develop a series on this topic that is currently so important in our diocese.

I have noticed short articles in the Catholic Herald over the past weeks on Archbishop Dolan’s comments on Rep. Ryan’s budget proposal, a conference on the currency of the encyclical Rerum Novarum, and a plea from two Catholic bishops to Congress and the White House to care for the “least of our brothers and sisters” in budget development. Perhaps someone from one of these sources such as Catholic University faculty could write such a column.

On June 23, 2011

Sr. Janice Bader, CPPS

Thanks people of diocese for response to retirement appeal

To the editor: […]

On June 9, 2011February 15, 2022

Mary C. Uhler

Don’t forget fathers: They play such an important role in our lives

All of us have special memories of our fathers (at least I hope so). I especially treasure the memories of my own father, who died when I was just 16 years old.

Even though he had a busy job as a teacher, my dad always spent time with me and my sister. I can remember when he got down on the floor and played jacks with us. That was at a time when not many fathers played with their children!

On June 9, 2011

Martha Bausch

Degrading of white male on TV is wrong

To Mark Patterson:

Thank you for publishing portions of my letter stating my opinion on TV programs and commercials. I feel that you either missed my point or don’t care about the white male anymore.

On June 9, 2011

Dave Osborne

Stick to religion

To the editor: […]

On June 2, 2011February 15, 2022

Mary C. Uhler

Observe pope’s 60th anniversary: And pray for all priestly vocations

This is the time of year when new priests and deacons are normally ordained. It naturally follows that many priests and deacons also celebrate their anniversaries of ordination.

We know many married couples, too, who are observing wedding anniversaries. Isn’t it wonderful to see couples married 25, 40, 50, and even 60 years or more who are still happy and in love with each other?

It’s just as nice to see priests and deacons who continue to be happy in their service to the Church. We are so fortunate to have these happy, holy men willing to give their lives to follow Christ and serve His people.

On May 26, 2011February 15, 2022

Mary C. Uhler

Church is leading the way: In providing safe environment for children

Although we lament the horrible instances of sexual abuse of minors by clergy, we can be proud that the Catholic Church in the United States is doing all it can to understand the causes of such abuse and try to prevent it from happening in the future.

The new report released May 18 on the causes and context of sexual abuse should help further that understanding and strengthen the many efforts underway to provide a safe environment for children in the Catholic Church.

On May 26, 2011

Theresa Krusko

Teachers have been doing more than their share to help economy

To the editor:

Back in the February 24, 2011, issue of the Catholic Herald, you had a guest columnist by the name of Constance Nielsen whose article, I felt, was very offensive to the public workers of Wisconsin. I remember quite clearly how I was feeling at that time because the media had been doing a fairly good job of promoting the misconception that public workers, especially teachers, had cushy jobs and were grossly overpaid.

Considering the difficulties that many of us are experiencing financially at this time, I found it deplorable that suddenly public workers, many of whom had been taking pay cuts or pay freezes for several years, suddenly were the “cause” of the budget deficit in Wisconsin.

On May 26, 2011

Patsy Kozlowski

Majority of taxes in U.S. are paid by the wealthy

To the editor:

Mr. Dagnon’s letter titled “America society has been redistributing wealth from the poor to the rich” (Catholic Herald, April 28) does not make any sense. The title debases his arguments and exposes him as a left wing ideologue. Poor people have no wealth to distribute — that is why they are called poor.

The only means the government has to generate funds to redistribute to the poor is through taxation and he fails to mention that the majority of taxes paid in this country are paid by the wealthy. In fact 51 percent of the U.S. population pays no federal taxes at all.