Morality, politics joined at the hip
It is incumbent upon our Catholic clergy to read every article and listen to every statement they can during this time after the election.
Many think that the Church should or even must be silent with regard to elections— what a travesty in light of the responsibility of Catholic leaders to teach the faith.
This logic would deny all Catholic teaching with regards to morality. If you disagree, please enlighten us with regard to those issues of law that do not involve morality.
You need to think before you answer. Even a 25 m.p.h. speed-limit law involves the morality of not endangering your fellow man while driving — a moral issue.
Now in this election, moral issues happened to coincide with the main contenders. Where in logic does that justify denying the Church from discussing those moral issues? This is silly. When contenders take strong moral stands, they place themselves in the arena of establishing morality, and the Church must inform the electorate.
It is immoral for the Church to fail to teach moral issues just because they don’t want to stand the light of criticism from those who call morality out of bounds — the baloney about the pseudo“separation of church and state.”
The worst kind of Catholic leader today is the one who follows the secular media and/or the politically correct manner.
We can be pleased by the fact that so many more Catholics came out last Tuesday for life — we can be saddened that every “Catholic” state voted for death by abortion and that those states that voted for life were evangelicals. Can we accept the truth? Shame on us!
Michael J Donnelly
Lawrenceville
Family touched by chaplain’s ministry
Editors’ note: These letters, originally addressed to Father Kent G. McCord in response to an article about Father McCord’s military chaplaincy in The Catholic Spirit Oct. 14, are reprinted here with permission of Father McCord and the Pizzillo family.
Dear Father McCord,
I am writing this letter to let you know your article in The Catholic Spirit newspaper touched both my husband and myself in ways you’ll never know.
We currently have two sons in the U.S.M.C. One just left Parris Island after graduation. The other is due to graduate. What struck me was you came from our parish St. Mary, South Amboy. It made me feel that our children have someone looking after them from home. Both boys went to St. Mary grammar school and St. Mary High School, which is now Cardinal McCarrick. In addition, both my husband and I are graduates, so as you can see we’ve been in St. Mary’s a long time.
It’s also nice to know you feel our future both in God and country are in such able bodied hands. In these times not many people feel that way. I believe it’s an honor and a commitment to serve and I also believe not many people are willing to sacrifice. We’re very proud of our sons that they decided to do this on their own and I think their faith had a lot to do with it.
I’m very thankful, grateful, etc. to you for your support of these fine young people making this sacrifice. They need more priests like you to support and guide them at this difficult time. I am relieved to know that God entrusted them to such able-bodied hands. May God bless you always and keep you in his care.
Dear Father McCord,
I would just like to add to my wife’s comments. I am a former Marine. I was on PI in 1971 and had a successful enlistment. Being a Marine and with my son’s choice to enlist, the pride I have for them is a strong one. I thank you for your commitment to our sons and daughter who choose this life. I thank God that there are people like you on our side.
Jerry and Susan Pizzillo
St. Mary Parish
South Amboy
Church leaders right to speak out
Jesuit Father David Hollenbach’s perceptions stated in the Nov. 4 issue of The Catholic Spirit (“Presidential election could signal change for Church, society,” page 2), are distorted concerning the bishops who spoke clearly about the Church’s position on abortion.
He stated that they were not only throwing their weight around on a political issue, which was a mistake, but that their stand would cause a backlash.
Backlash from who? On the contrary, faithful Catholics will rejoice that, unlike Father Hollenbach, some of our leaders will uphold our faith publicly.
As a professional social worker I know that morality, which is not a political point, is mental and social health! Those in authority, especially within the Church, must claim that definitely.
Greg Casterline
Belvidere
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law