In response to the letter by Mary Healy concerning Voice of the Faithful (Dec. 11 issue). Mary decided to do some research into VOTF by reading an article by Deal Hudson of Crisis magazine. I hope she first consulted the website of VOTF as I had suggested. I read Mr. Hudson’s piece and it seems to be an attempt to demonize many outstanding Catholic men and women, including Mr. Thomas Groome, who was the keynote speaker at our diocesan catechetical conference recently.

The late Cardinal Bernardin understood that the disagreements and various points of view in our Church need to be addressed by Catholics who respect one another and are willing to sit down, listen, and talk to one another. He called this his "Common Ground Initiative." As long as we continue to classify people as "wolves in sheep’s clothing" as Mr. Hudson calls the VOTF, we’ll get nowhere.

What great coverage you gave to the annual Catholic Girl Scout gathering. The cover page was wonderful, and the article, as usual, was excellent. I was pleasantly surprised to read the editorial, and thank you for the personal mention.

There is no doubt in my mind that one of the most important reasons for the continued success of the annual gathering is your support, and the wonderful coverage you have always given us.

Thank you so very much for your part in reaching the Catholic scouting community and keeping alive the knowledge that this is a program that stresses our faith to a lot of people.

I am very disappointed with the constant negative spin put on the news about the economy and the hard and important work being done in Iraq.

I would like to be able to pick up a newspaper or watch a news show and see what is actually happening rather than what you want me to think is happening. Print the truth!

Thanks for the coverage of the recent U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

What I read in The Spirit covered most of the major issues discussed by the bishops. However, unless I didn’t see it, one very important issue that was not covered was the bishops’ statement about contraception.

An article from the Catholic newspaper, The Wanderer, indicated the U.S. Bishops will be issuing a decree reaffirming the Church’s opposition to contraception. They intend to publish a brochure and will seek wide distribution, and be taught to high school and college students.

Many Catholics are misinformed on the Church’s teaching on this issue. An article in The Spirit explaining the Church’s teaching and the bishops’ intentions is needed to re-educate the faithful.