First, Limit the Harm

In her letter to the editor titled “Life, Absolutely” (Feb. 25), Judie Brown of American Life League Inc., argues that the only morally defensible position is an absolutist position that must oppose any laws making exceptions for rape and incest, or other “incremental” laws aimed at making the public aware of the pain suffered by unborn children during an abortion. She states that “making exceptions to permit the abortion of children is tantamount to presenting a pro-abortion position under a pro-life cloak.”

So, according to her logic, if a law were proposed tomorrow that would ban all abortion except in the cases of rape and incest, the truly moral choice would be to oppose it?

Brown quotes a woman who notes that approximately 1% to 2% of babies — that’s 470,000 to 940,000 babies — are aborted following offenses of rape and incest.  “I’ll pass on the exceptions, thank you,” the woman said, “for the sake of these babies.”

But what if we had the opportunity to save all the other babies lost to abortion with the passage of one law? These number near 47 million. Using Judie Brown’s logic, we should allow these 47 million to be killed until we can pass a law that will save every single baby.

As a matter of prudence and Catholic moral teaching, I believe it is a total injustice and a moral failure to not save babies when we have the chance. If we have an opportunity to save some babies (regrettably, not all) through the passing of a law, we should do so quickly and then continue the fight to save each and every child.

Pope John Paul II clearly and emphatically disagreed with Judie Brown’s pro-life strategy when he wrote: “When it is not possible to overturn or completely abrogate a pro-abortion law, an elected official, whose absolute personal opposition to procured abortion was well known, could licitly support proposals aimed at limiting the harm done by such a law and at lessening its negative consequences at the level of general opinion and public morality. This does not in fact represent an illicit cooperation with an unjust law, but rather a legitimate and proper attempt to limit its evil aspects” (Evangelium Vitae, No. 73)

Perhaps it is time to abandon the pro-life absolutist tactics that have gotten us nowhere over the past 34 years. Let’s fight to pass laws that will save babies.

Patrick Thornton

Villa Park, Illinois 

Madonna? Oh, Mama

I am responding to the Page-2 brief “Madonna, the Disciplinarian” (March 4).

I truly respect your newspaper for its content and objectivity. I read it faithfully every week and I always find articles of interest. But I was surprised to find an article about Madonna.

The “Material Girl” is one of the most blasphemous persons on the face of the planet. Please recall her mockery of the crucifixion and other sacred aspects of the Catholic faith.

Madonna sends mixed signals to her children. She is teaching them good things on the one hand while teaching them to mock Christ on the other. In the future, please feature someone else with more respect for Jesus. In the meantime, let us pray for her conversion.

Joseph Chamandy

Derwood, Maryland

Editor’s note: We covered Madonna two issues in a row. In the Feb. 25 issue, as part of our briefing on contemporary anti-Catholicism, we reported on her concert routine mocking the crucifixion. In the March 3 issue, we wrote about “Madonna the ‘Disciplinarian’” — with “disciplinarian” in quotes. We hoped the quotation marks would help make it clear to readers that we don’t consider Madonna a role model at all but were citing her to make a point: Even a woman as publicly antagonistic to morality as Madonna recognizes that morality is crucial when it comes to raising one’s own children. We apologize for the lack of clarity.

Catholic Marriage

Thank you for the great article “Matrimony Matters” in your Feb. 11 issue and for the accompanying sidebar “Vitamins for the Heart-to-Heart.”

I’d like to add a wonderful book to the resources you listed: Marrying Well: Stages on the Journey of Christian Marriage, by Evelyn Eaton Whitehead and James D. Whitehead. It isn’t new, but it certainly is wonderful.

I converted to the Catholic faith after my 1990 wedding and after having read this book. I read it initially without awareness that the authors were Catholic.

I am not knowledgeable about “who’s who” in the Catholic community when it comes to “liberal” or “conservative” perspectives, but this book is a gem for anyone who truly desires to understand what marriage is, what it requires of us and the many blessings it bestows on the partners and on the community of faith.

Thanks for a great publication.

Virginia Daley

Rockville, Maryland

Editor’s note: Published in the early 1980s, Marrying Well is out of print — but used copies are available via online booksellers.

Truth, Beauty, Hope

Thank you and the staff at the Register for your recent decision to inform your readers of the positions and actions of prospective candidates for the 2008 elections (“Pro-Lifers and the GOP: Early Campaign Season Focuses on Abortion,” March 18).

In an age of relativistic spin, it is becoming increasingly difficult to get factual news. Thanks again for the truth, beauty and hope offered by the Register.

Ann Kowalczyk

Waukesha, Wisconsin

 

‘Catholic’ Candidates

In recent issues of the Register, you’ve talked about Catholic candidates for public office. For example, in “Catholics Lead With Hats in Ring” (Feb. 18), a CNS report lists many of the members of Congress who claim to be Catholic and who are running for reelection or for higher office.

If we define a Catholic as one who follows Catholic doctrine, then we can take cold comfort in this group, for few of them do. Some 55 of the 75 “Catholic” members of Congress recently signed a statement of principles declaring their independence from Rome on matters of faith and morals.

This is no small point. If, say, Rudy Giuliani were elected president of the United States, he would become de facto the most powerful Catholic in the world. Yet he rejects papal authority on many issues of Catholic doctrine. His influence upon Catholics in America would be immense, perhaps greater than that of the Pope. Why? Because his message is easier.

The U.S. presidency is a bully pulpit indeed and not always for the better. It seems to those of us in the rank and file that the wealthy and influential are excused from the same requirements that we must live by. This leads to confusion and dismay. If these dissidents are elected to the highest offices in the land, schism may well follow. They will go their way and most will follow. A few of us will remain steadfast, but with no leaders.

I voted for John F. Kennedy because he was Catholic. I voted against John Kerry because he was Catholic. How times change.

William A. Stimson

Charlottesville, Virginia

Men Again

I would like to thank Eric Scheske for his frank and humorous March 11 discussion on true manliness in “St. Blog’s Parish” (“Real Men Don’t Write Blogs. Do They?”).

It is an important issue in our age, as the popular culture tries to downplay manliness or turn it into pure hype — the “break down every door in your house” approach. It would be a topic worth exploring in more depth in the Register.

As a simple answer to the question of manliness, I propose the example of the perfect man, Jesus Christ. The Gospel offers many examples that we can learn from, such as the cleansing of the Temple. A quote from a real man I know and admire has helped me a lot in this reflection: “The essence of manliness is not to be found in physical strength; it consists in mastering your passions and appetites, strength of will and self-control.”

As for blogging: I have nothing against the idea but I have neither a blog nor time to read other people’s blogs. Now that sounds manly, doesn’t it?

Matthew Schmitz, LC

Cheshire, Connecticut

Meeting Miscarriage

Regarding “Miscarriage of Ministry?” (Letters, March 4):

In addition to the blessing of the unborn that Mullan mentions, there are several other options available to assist in providing hope and healing for parents grieving the loss of a child through miscarriage. Both the Miscarriage Prayer and the Blessing of Parents after a Miscarriage are available on EWTN’s website. Paired with an offering of the Mass of the Angels, the Blessing can foster hope in God’s mercy and love.

Also, while it is perhaps a daunting exercise in faith and courage, parents can secure the remains of their child after miscarriage for a proper Mass, funeral rite and Christian burial, as one couple in my parish did. In addition, Elizabeth Ministry (elizabethministry.com) has a special outreach to women and families suffering the loss of a child through miscarriage. Finally, entrusting our suffering and our children to our Blessed Mother and carrying the cross of miscarriage in her arms will never fail to lead us securely to healing and peace in her Son.

In a special way similar to those who work in post-abortive ministry, perhaps those of us graced with the difficult cross of miscarriage are called not only to offer up our suffering and prayers for others who remain silent, unknown, abandoned and isolated in their grief, but to actually break the silence that prevents healing from taking place.

Angela Cybulski

Huntington Beach, California