Komen’s Offensive Stance

Regarding “With Eyes Open,” (April 20):

People would be outraged if the American Lung Association gave funds to the Philip Morris tobacco company for lung cancer screening. It’s equally offensive that Komen gave more than $711,000 to Planned Parenthood in 2007 (ostensibly for breast cancer screenings) and that Komen denies the abortion-breast cancer link.

Experts universally agree that the younger a woman is when she has her first full-term pregnancy and the larger her family is, the lower her breast cancer risk is. It’s undeniable that the young woman who has an abortion has a greater risk than the one who has a baby. It’s intellectually dishonest to deny any abortion-breast cancer link.

Nearly all of the childless woman’s breast lobules consist of cancer-susceptible Type 1 and 2 lobules (tissue containing a milk duct and milk-producing glands) where 95% of all breast cancers develop. A first full-term pregnancy is the only event in her life that matures 85% of her lobules into cancer-resistant Type 4 lobules under the influence of pheromones produced by the unborn child, hCG and hPL.

A full-term pregnancy leaves her with more cancer-resistant lobules than she had before she became pregnant. An abortion leaves her with more places for breast cancer to start.

Planned Parenthood has played a significant role in depriving women of the protective effect of childbearing.

Karen Malec, president

Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer

Hoffman Estates, Illinois

DNC Response Laughable

Regarding “DNC Response: Democrats Are People of Faith” (May 25):

As a faithful Catholic, I find the idea that the Democratic Party embodies the very soul of Catholic doctrine laughable.

There are certainly areas of social justice that one could argue the Democratic Party pursues more than the GOP, but one cannot turn a blind eye to the glaring issues of abortion, partial-birth abortion, proposed killing of children that were attempted to be aborted but were unsuccessful, euthanasia, “gay marriage,” stem-cell research using human embryos, etc.

I could go on, but I will say that I am embarrassed to read the kind of trash that was represented in this article in what I have always considered to be a publication that was faithful to Catholic values. The article was nothing but a self-serving attempt to diminish the view point of faithful Catholics and to tell us to quit being so narrow-minded and to “get with the program.”

Christopher A. Olsztyn

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Utilitarian Party

Regarding “DNC Response: Democrats Are People of Faith” (May 25):

I noticed there was one word missing from John Kelly’s commentary on the Democratic Party. That word, of course, is abortion. Until politicians of either party begin to recognize the sanctity of every human life, including the unborn, none of their positions on any other issues can be taken seriously.

I used to support the Democratic Party until I saw that they were alienating good, faithful Catholics with party lines that contradict Church teaching, especially on abortion. Abortion is the elephant in the living room of the Democratic Party that needs to be noticed and eliminated if the Democrats ever hope to have a positive impact on our country.

Think of what an inspiration Barack Obama could be if he exposed the African-American genocide taking place every day in abortion mills across the U.S. I am sad for all politicians who have chosen to sacrifice the sanctity of human life on the altar of political power. I commend those in the Democratic Party who are working hard to open the eyes of their leaders to the horror of abortion and pray that all government leaders will recognize the power they have to take a stand for the defense of our most vulnerable citizens.

Barbara Johnson

Brookfield, Wisconsin

Life Trumps All

Regarding “DNC Response: Democrats Are People of Faith” (May 25):

John Kelly’s article about the Democratic Party convinced me to run — not walk — away from them. 

In what faith do they believe? It cannot be the Catholic faith. Their candidates for president are aggressively pro-abortion, pro-death.

Abortion kills the unborn, the partially-born, and if a mistake is made and somehow they survive their attempted homicide, the completely-born.

One candidate has even stated that his greatest mistake was voting to save Terri Schindler-Schiavo’s life.

If he becomes president, he will put those of us facing end-of-life situations undoubtedly in danger.

Although Kelly mentions the USCCB document, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” he and I read it differently. I read: “The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life from the moment of conception until natural death is always wrong and is not just one issue among many. It must always be opposed. … A Catholic cannot vote for a candidate who takes a position in favor of an intrinsic evil, such as abortion and racism. … It is important to be clear that the political choices faced by citizens not only have an impact on general peace and prosperity but also may effect the individual’s salvation” (Nos. 28, 34 and 38).

From his photograph, I realize I am much older than Kelly, and am probably much closer to my personal salvation than he is to his, but this is serious! We are not only talking about millions of dead innocent babies, injured mothers and families, we are talking about our eternal souls.

I have read that Pope Benedict XVI told Italian Movement for Life, “How many human lives you saved from death! Continue along this path and do not be afraid, so that the smile of life may triumph on the lips of all children and their mothers.” 

I cannot vote for any Democratic Party candidate, and do not understand how any Catholic could. 

I also remain befuddled and saddened that a bright articulate DNC spokesperson like Kelly can equate Vatican solar panels or different forms of health insurance or more food stamps or whatever earth-bound government with dead babies and our immortal souls.

In her book The Privilege of Being a Woman, Alice von Hildebrand writes, “One thing is certain: When the time has come, nothing which is man-made will subsist. One day, all human accomplishments will be reduced to a pile of ashes. But every single child to whom a woman has given birth will live forever, for he/she has been given an immortal soul made to God’s image.”

 Joseph Wildman

Claremont, California

The Real Presence

Regarding the article: “‘Dad, It Looks Like Bread,’” (May 18):

In my own memory is my first Communion and how I had a sense of peace on my first Communion day, and later so often I wondered why it just tasted like bread and so often I had no experience of God’s presence when I received.

Later I fell away and, by God’s grace, was brought back to the faith in my early 20s.

When I returned I realized that, without the Eucharist, there was something missing for me.

I had a good orthodox parochial grade school teaching on the Real Presence but I think I was not taught what to expect when I received the Eucharist or of the process of growth with worthy reception of Jesus.

I believe that it is important to teach first communicants how to grow in their spiritual lives, which is consistent with spiritual growth in general.

First, the need to be free of serious sin and to strive to make myself as holy as possible, with the help of grace and the reception of the sacraments, including penance, regularly.

Second, that I must decide to believe that Jesus is truly present and to do my best to make myself aware of his presence by faith and by putting aside other concerns when I receive.

Third, that sometimes I will experience no feelings of God’s presence when I receive, but I must choose to believe anyway, even if I have no feelings, as an act of faith in the miracle of God’s presence.

If God created the universe, and Jesus told us “This is my body, this is my blood,” who am I to not take Jesus at his word, even if I feel nothing at the time?

I believe that along with learning the basics of the doctrine of the Real Presence, first communicants and all of us should be reminded that the reception of the Eucharist is the most important act of our spiritual lives and, like all Catholic spiritual development, we are called to walk in faith and choose to believe despite our lack of feelings.

Robert Gravlin

Florissant, Missouri

Not Register-Worthy

I just finished reading the article “Alien Life Out There” (May 25) and am shocked that it is in your newspaper.

It seemed a more appropriate article for the National Catholic Reporter. The argument is so very weak — where does it address that man is made in the image and likeness of God? And what about the liberal interpretation of St. Francis? I believe that St Francis is saying that “humans” are brothers and sisters (in Christ) — not all creatures. Very strange and unconvincing article. I hope you provide some clarification as to why you published it.

Jennifer Engle

Detroit, Michigan

Editor’s note: The origins of the story are in the very heart of the Church. In covering the story, we followed the lead of the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, which headlined its May 14 interview “The Extraterrestrial Is My Brother.” The story was about the views of Vatican Observatory astronomer Jesuit Father José Gabriel Funes.

Correction

Our Inperson interview with Anthony Picarello, general counsel for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (June 8), mentions a website called “For Your Marriage.” The Register regrets an error. It should be foryourmarriage.org.