HARRIET MIERS: FRIEND, FOE OR UNFORMED?

In your editorial titled “Give Miers a Chance” (Oct. 16-22), you ask: Which is Harriet Miers — the dangerous unknown, or the overly familiar?

Here is the answer. She is dangerously unknown to all of us, and unfortunately, overly familiar with Mr. Bush — which doesn't give us any assurance that she will vote to overturn Roe v. Wade, but precisely the opposite. The White House spokesman, Mike McClellan, all but said that Mrs. Laura Bush, who is pro-abortion, was pleased if not instrumental in selecting Ms. Miers. Mr. Bush also doesn't believe in the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

When are we as Catholics going to learn that those in public office who do not acknowledge the evil of every abortion, and fight against it are not on our side, but on the other side? Let's remember what Christ said: “What you do to the least of my children you do unto me.”

Do President Bush and others who are in favor of abortion for those children who are victims of rape, incest and other unwanted situations represent this?

DONAL MCGUIRE

Springfield, Pennsylvania

Your editorial “Give Miers a Chance” (Oct. 16-22) knocks down a straw man, is shockingly naïve and is an affront to your readers’ intelligence.

It is always uncomfortable to admit that one has been misled and used, but it is ultimately never helpful to cover over difficult truths with wishful thinking and platitudes. While he is capable of repeating some stock pro-life phrases on the campaign trail, when it comes to spending political capital, for president Bush pro-life issues are a very low priority. There is simply no other tenable interpretation of the Miers nomination.

The president is ready to put himself on the line for a John Bolton and the war in the Middle East; his pro-life supporters, however, have to content themselves with symbolism and unfulfilled campaign rhetoric. The promise to appoint a Scalia or a Thomas to the high court was an applause line designed to motivate pro-lifers to vote Republican, and it succeeded tremendously. Turnout of core supporters was the key to Mr. Bush's recent election victory.

The political capital of the president and the Republicans in Congress was earned on the backs of pro-lifers. Our support was bought with the promise of a Scalia and repaid with a contemptuous “Trust me on this one.” Would anyone buy a car knowing nothing about it except the dealer's plea for trust?

Pro-lifers need to shed their preconceptions and withhold their support from the president unless Miers is withdrawn. While matters might be difficult at this point, they are not impossible; Miers is not yet confirmed and criticism is growing.

Yet the thinking of the Register is so stereotyped to accept the pro-life image of the president (one carefully crafted for political gain) that it misses the gravity of this situation.

PHILIP HAROLD

Steubenville, Ohio

Talking about Teaching

I read with intense interest “Safety Programs in Dioceses Raise Questions” (Oct. 23-29). Your reporter, Judy Roberts, does an excellent job in highlighting several concerns regarding these programs, which were intended to protect children in our schools and extra-curricular activities from sexual predators.

The article points out that some of these programs exclude parental involvement. Even the best of the bunch, “Formation in Christian Chastity” from the Harrisburg, Pa., Diocese, appears to involve parents only peripherally with take-home discussion questions. One program founder even acknowledged that “parents don't know how” to provide this kind of training on their own, even when they are provided with the materials.

Let us state this case more pointedly. Catholic schools are attempting to fill a void in training and formation of children, which is properly the role of parents. If parents are not up to the task of training and forming their children, it is because we ourselves lack formation in those areas. While it may be an easier solution for schools to step in and provide those services directly to their students, a more appropriate response would be to form the parents.

I realize that this has been considered outside the scope and purview of schools. However, new challenges require new responses, even new vision.

For us Catholics, education has always been a necessary part of the formation of character, mind and conscience. This overarching formation is best provided in the context of family. As Pope John Paul II said: “The future of humanity passes by way of the family.”

Successful formation in the 21st century will involve the entire family. It is in this way that the re-Christianization of the culture will take place. Ignoring parents, or allowing them to play only a peripheral role in the formation of their children, will not bring an overwhelming success; it will only perpetuate mediocrity. I would recommend that schools rethink their mission in light of what families need in this era of New Evangelization.

Fortunately, in the last decade or so there have emerged a few good adult-formation programs that have addressed this need. These programs dramatically exceed what is usually expected of “adult education” classes typically provided in parishes. An article about such programs would be most welcome.

PAUL EBY

Whitehouse, Ohio

Disciple of Dissent

Your article “Pope Benedict's Summer of Listening” (Oct. 9-15) gave us news of the Holy Father's visit with Father Hans Küng, a dissident theologian.

It brought to mind an old saying: “A half-truth is worse than a lie.” Your correspondent in Rome mentions that Father Küng “questioned the dogma of papal infallibility” and left out the many heterodox tenets Father Kung is selling still today. Which, to me, is only a fraction of the truth regarding Father Küng.

For example, in his book On Being a Christian, Father Küng denies the divinity of Christ (p. 130), dismisses the miracles of the Gospel (p. 233), denies the bodily resurrection of Jesus (p. 350), denies that Christ founded an institutional Church (p. 109) and denies the Mass is a re-presentation of Calvary (p. 323).

He has never retracted these heretical statements and has caused many other priests to dissent on dogmas.

ROSEMARY T. O'REGAN

Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts

Embryonic Brethren

“The Plan-B Process” (Letters, Oct. 9-15), is an outstanding look at the problems inherent in the so-called “emergency contraception.”

Just one point could have received more emphasis because of the confusion generated by those who fallaciously redefine pregnancy to begin at implantation of the embryo in the womb. That all our lives begin at the fertilization of our mother's ova by our father's sperm is a biological fact, not subject to differing views or redefinition.

Arguing against contraceptives and embryonic stem-cell research, a physician friend puts it this way: “Implantation of an embryo in the womb is only one step, occurring five to seven days into a pregnancy that results in birth, childhood, maturity, middle and old age and death. Truly it is an awesome process from the outset.”

Following the Angel Gabriel's annunciation to Mary that she was to be the mother of God, we read in St. Luke that “Mary went in haste to the town of Judah … and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe in her womb leapt. And Elizabeth … cried out … ‘How have I deserved that the mother of my Lord should come to me?’”

The distance between Nazareth and Judah is 60 miles, my physician friend notes. Going “in haste,” Mary would reach Judah in three or four days. The awesome reality is that both Elizabeth and her son, John the Baptist, six months in utero, recognized the divine personhood of Jesus before he implanted in Mary's womb. And we also must recognize the dignity of Jesus’ embryonic brothers!

WILLIAM LUKSIC

Rockville, Maryland

Catholic Students Count

Thank you for your insightful Catholic College Survey (Sept. 25-Oct. 1).

Statistics tell us there are approximately 6 million Catholic students in higher education at secular universities and approximately 500,000 in Catholic institutions. Secular schools like Texas A&M, Arizona State, Michigan State, Michigan, University of Wisconsin, and the University of Kansas (and many, many more) all have great Catholic campus-ministry programs and 10,000-plus Catholic students on their secular campuses.

Perhaps one day it would be a great service in which the Register could work with CCMA (Catholic Campus Ministry Association) to highlight these Catholic campus ministries for parents who can't afford tuition at a Catholic university but would like their young adults to attend a school with a great Catholic campus-ministry program.

I enjoy reading each edition of the Register, keeping up to date with matters of the faith.

FATHER DAN COOK

Pastor, Holy Cross Church and Director of Holy Cross Campus Ministry Northwestern State University Natchitoches, Louisiana

Signposts by the Street

Regarding “The Battle Over Roadside Memorials” (Oct. 9-15):

We have activist groups trying to stamp out faith from the public eye and, with it, freedom. A freedom that was purchased with countless lives of men and women who believed in life, who believed in that freedom. All to be thrown away by selfish, money-grubbing and egotistical politicians who claim patriotism. To be tossed aside by court judges who impose and enforce their own ideologies and fanatical anti-religion, anti-life terrorism. A few exceptions are fighting for life, liberty and freedom.

It's starting with “under God” in the pledge, and roadside monuments. Tomorrow it will be crosses and monuments in cemeteries because someone driving by is offended. The next day it will be crosses atop a steeple and stained-glass windows. Can't even put private property in that list; it's already gone with the “eminent domain” ruling our “great court” handed down.

Hope still remains, though: Throughout history, good has won. Jesus trampled death. So why does our Christian culture embrace it so?

Let's just pray that this situation in America, the land of the free, doesn't come to gulags and concentration camps, full of political prisoners that express their faith God, Allah or Buddha. This problem is for all religions. May God help America in our darkest hour yet.

WILLIAM M. BISSON

Westfield, Massachusetts

EWTN Energizes

Relevant to “The Triumph of Rita Rizzo” (Commentary, Oct. 23-29):

EWTN is celebrating 25 years of Catholic broadcasting. It is through EWTN's founder, Mother Mary Angelica, and by her courage and her faith and trust in God, that EWTN is what it is today.

We are all grateful for the wonderful programs on EWTN. They inspire us, educate us and nourish our faith. The network comforts the sorrowful, counsels the doubtful and instructs the ignorant. EWTN is the embodiment of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. EWTN is the beacon of light in an even darkening world.

Let us all thank Mother Angelica for her heroic sacrifice by supporting her with our love, our prayer and our financial help so that EWTN will continue for the next 25 years and beyond.

MARY PHELAN-HAMMEL

Lakewood, New Jersey