Letters to the Editor

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Do we Catholics vote for our principles or our pocketbooks?

Stephen Kent’s column about the economy in the Aug. 31 issue of The Criterion and the upcoming election portrayed this issue as the most important for Catholics.

He states that “the relative silence of the candidates and their campaigns on the moral imperative to resist and overcome poverty is both ominous and disheartening.”

In “Christifedeles Laici,” published in 1988, Pope John Paul II said, “The common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights, for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture, is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition of all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination.”

For Catholics, life is the most important issue. The choice is very clear in this election.

Do we, as Catholics, have the courage to vote for our principles or do we vote for our pocketbooks?

- Gerald Stahl | Columbus

Thanks for highlighting wonderful and compassionate ministry in newspaper

Thank you for Mary Ann Garber’s article in the Aug. 24 issue of The Criterion about The Good House, which provides housing for bone marrow transplant patients and their families.

This is a wonderful, compassionate ministry!

Recognition should also be given to Lisa (Michealree) Latimer’s family—her mother, Reva; sister, Kim Clarke; and father, Tom, as well as her extended family. They gave heroic moral and practical support throughout Lisa’s struggle with leukemia.

The St. Barnabas Parish family deserves praise for all they are doing—especially the children who gave up a field trip in order to help.

This is an outstanding example of doing Christ’s work on Earth.

- Elizabeth Latimer | Bloomington

Church hierarchy not mistaken on marriage issue, reader says

I would like to respond to the letter writer in the Sept. 21 issue of The Criterion who asks if it is possible that the Church “hierarchy is now equally mistaken on matters like contraception and gay marriage.”

With regard to the latter, I would refer to the Bible—Gn 19:1-29; Lv 18:22; Rom 1:24-27; 1 Cor 6:10; and 1 Tm 1:10.

After reading these verses, one can understand why the Church is not mistaken on this issue.

- Pat Uberta | Indianapolis

Showing of movie by St. Monica Knights of Columbus, Dan Baldini is truly appreciated

Thanks to St. Monica’s Knights of Columbus council and Dan Baldini for the opportunity to see the film For Greater Glory on Sept. 23.

All Catholic high school students should see this movie to seriously prepare them for the persecution that is developing around us.

- Kathleen Naghdi | Indianapolis