Saint Josemaria

Thank you for your weekly efforts in communicating the good news with faith and love for God and the Church.

I write to point out a factual error in Tim Drake's article “John Paul the Saint-Maker” in the Oct. 13-18 issue. The diocesan priest who founded Opus Dei on Oct. 2, 1928, Father Josemaria Escriva, was canonized, not beatified, last year by the Pope. He was beatified 10 years before, in May of 1992.

Further information on the life and works of this 20th century “saint of the ordinary life” can be found on the Web at www.escriva-works.org, www.josemariaescriva.info and www.opusdei.org.

FATHER JACK SOLARSKI, Houston, Texas

Where Angels Fear to Spell

I want to thank you and compliment you on the fine article you wrote on the archangels, “Where Do Archangels Fear to Tread? Nowhere,” Sept. 28-Oct. 4.

I am happy how well you reflected my comments on St. Michael the Archangel. I was disappointed, however, that my last name was misspelled.

Oh well, most people who commented on the article to me didn't even notice!

FATHER MICHAEL SKLUZACEK, Church of St. Michael Stillwater, Minnesota

Questioning Arnold

I am wondering why, when you wrote the heading, “Just Another Pro-Abortion Catholic?” (Oct. 19-25), you included a question mark? Is this an “everything is relative, I'm trying to find myself, who can be sure about anything” question?

For the love of God, and the fellowship of man, please, help me with this. Arnold Schwarzenegger is just another pro-abortion Catholic. He said so!

I hope Arnold calls me so I can tell him to pick on someone his own size, and to stop picking on babies in the womb. A big man like Arnold needs to stop hiding behind Maria Shriver. If Arnold is a Catholic, he needs to start living like one.

You show a picture of Gray Davis receiving Communion. What is the difference between Arnold and Gray? That is where the question mark belongs.

JOHN BEDARD, Springfield, Tennessee

Editor's note: We had written the headline as “Just Another Pro-Abortion Catholic: Pro-Lifers Assess Arnold” when an editor pointed out that three pro-lifers quoted in the article say they are working closely with him on the question and that he has pro-life Catholics working for him. One even told us he was “cautiously optimistic” that Schwarzenegger would change. So we added the question mark to reflect the assessments of the pro-lifers we interviewed. This was a news story about their opinions, not ours.

John Paul, Confirmed

Long live Pope John Paul II. I am writing because I just loved the feature in the Register about babies who were named John Paul for our Holy Father (“25 John Pauls,” Oct. 12-18).

My son Brett chose the name John Paul as his confirmation name five years ago with great pride and confidence that he was giving honor to a great Pope and that to bear his name would be a privilege. I wonder how many other young men have done the same.

I attached a picture of my son. I couldn't figure out how to detach it from the other picture, but Brett Anthony John Paul DeClemente is the young man with the glasses and his friend is Sal Benedict Nuzzo (after St. Benedict).

Keep up the good work of spreading the truth. We need you.

ALICE DECLEMENTE, Cape Coral, Florida

Witnesses to Mercy

A reader who wrote the Register recently is to be commended for her courage in confessing that she underwent an abortion (“Legitimate Grief,” Letters, Oct. 12-18). Even though I am a male, I understand her feelings of guilt and the difficulty she might have in forgiving herself.

I, too, have been guilt-ridden because I left the Church when my children were very young and missed the critical period in their faith formation. None are practicing Catholics today. Each time over the past 20 years or more when I hear the Gospels regarding “causing little ones to sin,” that “it's better that a millstone were hanged about his neck …” (Matthew18:6), my guilt resurfaces. Using the writer's suggestion that we soften our words regarding our sins, should we change Christ's harsh words about scandal so that we can feel better about ourselves? I am sure she does not mean that.

With the merciful counseling of a wonderful confessor and spiritual advisor, I learned to curtail my self-debasement because of past serious sins by focusing on Christ's Divine Mercy. Through God's infinite mercy and forgiveness, we can forgive ourselves. Or, more correctly, we must forgive ourselves as much as we must forgive our enemies. Aren't we too often our own worst enemies?

Finally, we must not soften our words regarding mortal sins, but emphasize their seriousness, because they offend God. We must also keep in mind Christ's teaching that forgiveness is available to us as long as we have a “firm purpose of amendment” and accept God's Divine Mercy. Lay our sins at the feet of Christ and accept his love in return.

My prayers include the intentions of ending abortion for all women who suffer because of abortions, and that they receive the grace to forgive themselves.

E.L. BEASLEY, Melbourne, Florida

Include All Iraqis

I am responding to the article from the Sept. 28-Oct. 4 issue, “Chaldean Bishops Say Iraqi Christians Shut Out of Civil Structures.” It seems to me that it is hypocritical to claim that we are trying to get the various groups in Iraq to cooperate for a better future in Iraq while we exclude Iraq's Christian minority from the civil structures involved in the building of a better Iraq.

Paul Bremer, the United States-appointed civil administrator in Iraq, is not doing his job as best he can and also is perpetuating the image that Americans don't care about the Iraqis. He should publicly apologize to this group for his dereliction of duty. In our country such an exclusion of a group from influencing the rule of our nation would not be tolerated.

President Bush should also apologize to this group of Chaldean Christians because it will show the world that he does care about the future of Iraq.

If Bremer wants to appear to be a good leader, he should take the responsibility for his actions and rectify the situation. It might even help him keep his job. And if President Bush were to make such an apology, Americans would see him as a more accountable leader, which might help him get re-elected.

LUCAS BEDIA, Mobile, Alabama