The Best of Honest Abe

Back in November, we printed what we believed to be President Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1863. Since then, a number of readers have written us to challenge the authenticity of the transcript.

Well, we've done a little research on the matter — and found out that our readers are one sharp bunch.

It turns out that what we printed as the “Thanksgiving Proclamation” is actually two Lincoln works edited into one by someone other than Lincoln. The individual sentences are all verbatim from the 16th president — it's just that some are from the 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation and others are from Lincoln's 1863 National Fast Day Proclamation (delivered the previous spring).

Our thanks to the several readers who spotted the inaccuracy and helped us crack the case.

Here, for the record, is the correct text of Lincoln's 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation:

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watching providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and provoke their aggressions, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict, while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore.

Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out, these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.

And I recommend to them that, while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the Eighty-eighth.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

President of the United States of America October 3, 1863

Let's Put Abortion Under the Lights

The anniversary of the Roe v. Wade court case (“Youth Contingent Evident Everywhere at 2002 March for Life,” Feb. 3-9) provided fodder for editorialists and radio talk show hosts. However, it seems that every discussion came to the same conclusion — neither side of the debate will compromise and there is no solution. One can watch copulation on cable TV. One can watch a heart surgery or see real police officers being shot to death. One can even watch jetliners crash into skyscrapers. Yet the most controversial issue in our nation's history is not shown on television.

How are citizens supposed to make informed choices about abortion without being able to see exactly what is being aborted and how abortions are performed? Abortions could be shown at each stage of pregnancy without commentary to bias the viewers. From the disposal of fertilized eggs to a late-term procedure, every viewer would have the unprecedented opportunity to make a truly informed decision.

The program would generate discussion and careful thought about an issue that divides our nation. Those who are confident they are on the correct side of the issue should be thrilled that others will be able to finally see the truth of the matter. But, in the words of a popular country song, “that would be too demanding.”

Why bother? Who needs to think when we have politicians who will do it for us?

SHELLEY MOSLEY STANZEL Dallas

Choice Words for “Free-Choice” Catholics

Your editorial “Don't they Care?” (Jan. 13-19) outlines valid reasons why promoting condoms does grave injustice to all women, and especially our vulnerable youth, by promoting sexual activity at very early ages — and the fact that condoms do not protect against STDs, with one of the chief supporters of condoms being so-called “Catholics for a Free Choice.”

Since our bishops have repudiated Catholics for a Free Choice, it would seem logical and prudent that the Church could and should sue this group for using the name “Catholic,” which they are certainly not.

I, for one, would gladly support a “second collection” for just this purpose.

MRS. R.E. KERN Tulsa, Oklahoma

Purity, Priests and Parents

The latest round of scandals surrounding priests (“The Abuse Crisis,” editorial, Jan. 20-26) is a wake-up call from God to American Catholics that should ring as loudly and clearly as 9/11 did.

Yes, these priests are responsible before God for terrible things, but laymen should not forget their own responsibility.

Our bishops who have turned a blind eye can be likened to parents who put up with immodest behavior from their children instead of correcting it. Although, of course, there is a huge difference in responsibility, should we not acknowledge a similar fault when we allow our children to view R-rated movies? When we allow teenage girls to dress immodestly? When posters of half-naked women are on our boys’ walls? When we don't supervise properly to guard them against premarital sex?

God is offended by each individual immodest glance. We are as responsible before God for our children's purity as our bishops are for their priests’ and flocks’. Some priests have done terrible things to children's purity by commission, but have we not neglected our own children's purity by omission?

We all know that the majority of Catholics are practicing artificial contraception against the continuous teaching of the Church, which speaks the Word of God. While we should expect our priests to obey their vows of celibacy, we also have the obligation to keep our own vows of marital chastity.

American Catholics need to do their own examination of conscience. This in no way diminishes the responsibility of those priests and bishops. But each one of us should do what he can in his own state of life to live up to his call to holiness. Through the communion of saints, each individual action either raises up or brings down the entire Church. When our priests fail, our prayers and sacrifices can help them be more holy.

LISA GUTRO North Reading, Massachusetts

Correction

Steve Weidenkopf, Director, Office of Marriage & Family Life in the Archdiocese of Denver, points out that the “New Marriage Preparation Norms Get Old-Style Results” by Wayne Laugesen (Jan 27-Feb.2 2002) makes two significant factual errors.

The recent survey by Rutgers University's National Marriage Project indicated the percentage of marriages that end in divorce for society as a whole is 45 - 50% — the study was not broken down by religious affiliation, as the article says.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops minimum norms for marriage preparation do not include a required six months of preparation, as the article implies.

For a corrected copy of the story, visit: www.ncregister.com