I have to thank you for the “universal” coverage of the terrible war in Iraq. So many American religious institutions have “sold out” on their responsibility to God's law, the teachings of Jesus and the Church with regard to our attack of Iraq. The events are covered as if American life is all that is important. Thank you for showing us the face of the people in Iraq — especially our own Church. It gives a human face to the sufferings of so many innocent people.

From the Holy Father and other teachers of the Church, we have been urged to not follow this plan of aggression without first exhausting all other avenues of diplomacy and collaboration with the world community. Our “just-war theory” in no way supports what we are doing.

Please do not waver in being a voice for Christ and his Church in these times. So many Americans cannot see that they have a moral responsibility to God before their own president and nation when it comes to acts that have the potential of being against the law of God. Our parish has been united in prayer since Sept. 11, 2001, and we have a large sign that has hung over the main entrance of the church: Pray for Peace. But this prayer is for all people of the world — especially the poor and oppressed. As a pastor, I thank you for your support in this teaching mission in these desperate times.

Our own diocesan paper this week headlined the front page with “Vatican Says Bush Will Answer to God on Iraq War.” I am proud of them as well! May we become stronger witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus and pray for each other, that we might have the courage to speak truth and work passionately for peace and justice.

FATHER WAYNE CAMPBELL

San Leandro, California

Looking for a Few Good Priests

The article “U.S. Troops Returning to Church in Droves” (March 30-April 5) contained some incorrect information.

The article stated that there was only one Catholic chaplain in Kuwait. The U.S. Air Force has two Catholic chaplains assigned to two different bases in Kuwait. One priest is assigned to Al Jaber for a one-year, remote assignment. The other priest is assigned to Ali Ali Salem. He is there on a deployment. Also, the Australians have a priest who is serving at the airport.

The Air Force has only 103 priests. Twenty-two Air Force priests are presently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. We are looking for a few more priests to serve in the Air Force. If you are interested, please call Father Mike Biewend at (210) 652-4700.

MSGR. CARLO F. MONTECALVO

Bolling Air Force Base,

District of Columbia

The writer is chief of the Personnel and Readiness Division in the Office of the Chief of the U.S. Air Force Chaplain Service.

Getting Senators Straight

Regarding “How Catholic Senators Voted” (March 23-29):

Sen. Jim Bunning of Kentucky also voted Yea on the partial-birth abortion ban. And Sen. Lisa Murkowski represents Alaska, not Arkansas.

CHRISTOPHER J. MATTIA

West Bloomfield, Michigan

Sneaky Senators

Your March 23-29 listing of “How Catholic Senators Voted” on the partial-birth abortion ban is factually correct but misleading because of the duplicity of some of the senators.

For example, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), ubiquitous speaker at Catholic events and darling of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, voted for the ban once he knew it would pass even without his vote, but prior to that he voted for an amendment that would have gutted the ban if it had passed. He also voted to support the horrendous Roe v. Wade decision to permit abortion for all nine months of gestation.

In the future, I urge you to show all votes, including amendments, on pro-life legislation so your readers can see which senators truly support pro-life legislation and those who are trying to hide their support for the evil of abortion.

WILLIAM LUKSIC

Rockville, Maryland

Bringing Up the Movies

I recently saw the film Bringing Down The House, which was featured in your “Take Five” movie-review section by Steven Greydanus (March 30-April 5). I went based on your review of this movie and, after seeing it, I firmly believe you need a new Catholic movie critic who upholds the moral standards of our Church. The violence portrayed in the movie, which you rated as -1 (questionable) was unnecessary and displayed no consequences which would result from such a fight; there was no blood, broken bones, cuts, bruises or pain showed except for one of the characters later who had a black eye. The violence of this fight between two women was hailed with applause and laughing by the other movie patrons. What about the dignity of these women? Where was that shown?

Then your critic had a rating of -1 (questionable) for sexual content. Did he not see the part where Steve Martin and Queen Latifah are on a sofa simulating a sexual act? Did he not see the same people dancing erotically again as if having sexual intercourse? This should have been rated a -3 (reprehensible)!

The critic did mention that this film was a step back in race relations for Americans — that is drastically understated. I am surprised that Queen Latifah would even want to mock her fellow African-Americans by the stereotyping that flowed through the entire movie. I also was ashamed that Steve Martin would do the same at the negative portrayals of white Americans and how they are afraid of black people. I was up for a night of laughter and found myself more depressed after watching this movie because it just served to drag all of us, black and white, further apart. It was also depressing to see the reaction of the audience, many of whom were between 8 and 15 years old, watching this movie with a PG-13 rating.

And then we wonder why everyone has no moral values! As a Catholic, I always imagine myself to be watching a movie with the Blessed Mother and Christ at my side. I had to close my eyes several times due to the content of this one. I am sure Mary and Jesus were not amused and were weeping a mountain of tears.

I hope you get a more orthodox movie critic and also let us know every week whom we can write to in Hollywood so they will bring us good, wholesome movies.

KATHY SPAGNOLA

York, Pennsylvania

Steven Greydanus responds: I, too, found Bringing Down the House quite objectionable. Indeed, it was my intention to discourage readers from seeing it. Honestly, the only reason I sit through films like this is to be able to steer other people away from them. One of my great satisfactions as a Catholic film critic is to get e-mails saying, “Thanks for saving me eight bucks on that horrible movie.” In the case of Bringing Down the House, in my Register “Take Five” capsule, I tried to describe, within the space limitations, precisely the two scenes that most bothered you. I'm sorry that my language wasn't strong enough to communicate to you my strong distaste for this movie. As for the ratings: In retrospect, I should have given both the sex and the violence in this film a -2 (objectionable) rather than a -1 (questionable). I'm new to the Register and still getting acclimated to the ratings system here. If you have any further questions about me or my commitment to honor Christ and his Church in my work, I invite you to check out my Web site, www.decentfilms.com. Thank you for writing!

Greydanus a Good Catch

I have been a subscriber to your paper for a few years. The paper gets better with each issue.

Thank you for including Steve Greydanus in the Arts and Culture section. Having enjoyed his reviews posted at his Web site, I was glad to see that he is now writing for the Register.

I hope Mr. Greydanus will become a regular contributor to the paper.

MARTIN P. BROWNE

Forest Hills, New York