Being pro-life, Catholic, from Louisiana and a registered Democrat, I would like to respond to your article “Who's Pro-Life?” (Dec. 8-14). Your article pointed out the confusion Catholic voters had in the recent election where pro-abortion (Catholic) incumbent Sen. Mary Landrieu won over her pro-life (Catholic) Republican challenger, Suzie Terrell.

How could a state that has some of the largest Catholic dioceses in the country choose abortion over life? The media reported that Landrieu carried the Catholic vote; this only confirmed my confusion and left me embarrassed as a Catholic.

In trying to understand my confusion, the message was clear: The majority of Louisiana Catholic voters are pro-abortion and Democrat. I knew how James and John felt when they wanted to call down fire from heaven on a Samaritan village that was inhospitable, but Jesus rebuked them (See Luke 9:55). I thought they had a good idea, but obviously Jesus had a better plan.

In the meantime, I'm abandoning the Democratic ship in case Jesus changes his mind about the fire. However I'm not leaving the Catholic ship because, if he does change his mind, “I want to be in that number.” I may be embarrassed as a Catholic, but I'm not embarrassed to be a Catholic. Come Lord Jesus!

Keep up the good reporting.

DONALD C. ROMERO

Abbeville, Louisiana

Fasting Beats Fighting

The day after I heard Scott Ritter mention on TV the most horrifying thing he saw as the chief U.N. weapons inspector was the children's prison system in Iraq, I fasted and prayed for a week for their liberation. Shortly thereafter, the news came that Saddam had opened his prisons. As a result of my fasting? My faith is too weak to believe that. But I do believe Jesus taught pacifism because it works, and certainly there are as many false pacifists as there are false Christians. Yet I do believe if all these people clamoring for war were praying and fasting instead then we would have peace.

You can have your delta force and navy seals and CIA paramilitary specialists. When it comes to battle, they are no match against a pacifist in mental or physical toughness, or results.

JOHN SPIERS

Seattle

Peace: Worth Fighting For

I read with interest the letter from Brooks Erickson of El Paso, Texas, making reference to “off-beam” theology regarding just-war theory (“Different Take on Just War,” Letters, Dec. 15-21). Perhaps the author should be more concerned with revisionist history — and the twisting of the plain witness of sacred Scripture.

A good place to start is the Catholic Encyclopedia. In an article under the heading “Thundering Legion,” it describes “a detachment of the Twelfth Legion, which was regularly stationed at Melitene in Armenia and comprised many Christians, took part in the expedition against the Quadi” that existed in 174 A.D. This legion was saved in battle — and, in fact, given victory — by an apparently miraculous thunderstorm. The pagans who wrote about it claimed the intervention of pagan divinities. Tertullian (and other Christians) claimed the victory was given by God. Either way, it indicates that not all early Christians were strict pacifists. They were also known to pray for the welfare of the emperor and the republic — and for “brave armies” to secure the peace.

With regard to biblical witness in the New Testament, Paul acknowledges the right of the state to “bear the sword” in the service of God (Romans 13:4). Jesus himself admonishes tax collectors, adulterers, Pharisees, lawyers and scribes — but his words for the centurion are nothing but praise for his faith. Christ holds him up as an example (Matthew 8:10-13). There is no admonishment.

Most disturbing is the implication that, somehow, as of the fourth and fifth centuries, some sort of distortion or corruption of pure Christianity must have taken place. Something essential was lost, the Catholic Church went astray and we need to get back to that original, pure theology. Sound familiar? This is simple evangelical Protestant apologetics and nothing more. It negates all that we hold true concerning divine Revelation and its protection in the magisterium. To accept that notion is to reject the Catholic faith out of hand.

The idea that early Christians were universally strict pacifists and that this pacifism is an essential, core belief of Christianity is something of a romantic notion. It is not without a certain appeal, granted — but it is a mistaken notion nonetheless.

VINCENT BRANDOLINI

Salem, New Jersey

We Are One Confused Church

In my 74 years as a Catholic, I remember only one homily regarding the taking of innocent human life. It was delivered about 10 years ago by a priest in our parish. He received a standing ovation from the congregation. I have heard no more than an occasional passing reference to the subject since.

We have all heard that as many as 50% of Catholics approve of abortion and apparently vote regularly for pro-abortion candidates. Politicians who claim to be Catholic yet publicly support abortion are regularly elected with little or no opposition from our bishops. Your paper has covered many examples of this — Jennifer Granholm, Nancy Pelosi, Mary Landrieu and so on. There are many others. Everyone knows the famous “Catholic” politicians who are in favor of abortion, including Teddy Kennedy and Mario Cuomo.

A recent “Letters” contributor wrote Bishop Wilton Gregory, head of the National Council of Catholic Bishops, asking him to remove former California Congressman and Clinton Chief of Staff Leon Panetta from the board advising the bishops regarding child sexual abuse because of Panetta's voting record in Congress. He was told in reply that all members of the board were ”faithful Catholics.” How can a former member of Congress with a 97% pro-abortion voting record be a faithful Catholic?

Since we have no pressure from the secular media on this one, the bishops can safely indulge themselves and continue to avoid offending politicians. But what does this do to the people in the pews?

With leadership like this, is it any wonder that only about 25% of us who claim to be Catholics attend church regularly? Is it any wonder we help elect pro-abortion politicians to represent us?

It seems the plenary council requested by some bishops and referenced in Wayne Laugesen's article “Bishops Fine Tune Dallas” (Nov. 24-30) is overdue. Let's pray they get together and seriously examine our mission as Christians and their responsibilities as leaders of our Church in this modern world.

JIM DORSEY

Longmont, Colorado

Pro-Abortion Priests: Say What?

I remember reading an account of the support given Michigan Gov.-elect Jennifer Granholm by some members of the clergy. If I am not mistaken, there was a follow-up story that said the priests had apologized to their parishioners after Cardinal Adam Maida intervened.

What many priests must now be wondering is: What does one have to do to be deprived of one's parish? Are pro-abortion clergy to be given the pastoral care of souls?

Dissent from the Church's teachings is found among many priests at the parish level and it is tolerated by some of the bishops. No wonder so many of our Catholic people are confused when they see that their pastors can oppose what the Church teaches and yet be allowed to remain in place after an apology.

FATHER BRENDAN ASHE

Riviera, Texas

The writer is pastor of Our Lady of Consolation Parish.