January 25, 2019

Letters to the Editor

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No other issue is as important as abortion, reader says

In reference to the “Be Our Guest” column in the Dec. 14 issue of The Criterion, which was in response to Editor Emeritus John F. Fink’s prior editorial about single-issue voters, I offer the following:

Abortion is that letter writer’s and my single issue because premeditated murder of an unborn child is a mortal sin.

I reference the commandment: “Thou shalt not kill.” Yet it is allowed by law of the United States.

Do you remember Dec. 8? We celebrated Mary’s Immaculate Conception. That is the joining of her mother’s egg and her father’s sperm, with a soul, and declaration from God that she was not subject to original sin. The physical egg and sperm and the fertilized egg were not immaculate.

Immaculate is the soul of Mary that had no sin, and still has no sin.

Mary became a human just like you and me at conception. At six weeks, a separate heartbeat and the neurons in the brain become detectable as the body continues to grow. The separate life is continually nourished while some physical characteristics from mother’s egg and father’s sperm are carefully duplicated.

The problem? Since 1973, our citizens have allowed our government to declare that life begins at birth. Thus, over the past 46 years, our total estimated number of abortions is now 61 million Americans.

Also, most other countries that look to us for direction have changed their laws to allow abortion now, including Ireland and Italy.

Annually, our most recent figure is 638,169 abortions in 2015, or 2,123 daily based on 300 days per year (50 weeks and six days per week).

Single-issue voter? Yes!

Abortion is our worst problem.

Jesus, please help us.

- John A. McKenzie | Indianapolis
 

Columnists’ words demonstrate ways to live out our faith

If I could imbed a screen shot of page 12 of the Jan. 11 issue of The Criterion in this e-mail, I could graphically show what I think it means to be a Catholic today.

At the top of the page, the column by Christina Capecchi elucidates the importance of focus on oneself, at the bottom is Father Eugene Hemrick’s column on “thou,” in the middle is the column by David Bethuram on concern for others, and on the right side of the page is a column by Patti Lamb on the importance of one’s relationship with others and with God.

The Criterion “gets it.”

- Terry Daley | Indianapolis
 

Parishioners applaud archbishop for response to Roncalli High School situation

We feel compelled to write this letter to Archbishop Charles C. Thompson in support of his position regarding the contentious and difficult issue challenging his authority in the case of the continuing employment of Roncalli High School in Indianapolis and guidance counselor Shelly Fitzgerald.

Unfortunately, today’s moral and cultural descent to a much lower bar of moral certitude has made defense of 2,000 years of Roman Catholic teaching and doctrine—even among professed Catholics—a challenge we would not have expected even 10 years ago.

Archbishop Thompson’s clearly stated support of Roncalli’s position that same-sex marriage is a clear violation of long-standing Catholic Church teaching is courageous and should be commended.

As stated in an earlier letter published in The Indianapolis Star, a key issue here is the critically important distinction between human behavior and human value.

As Catholics, we do support Church teaching that same-sex marriage is a clear violation of divine/natural law—and contrary to God’s larger plan. However, we would temper that statement by stating unequivocally our equally strong belief that God’s love for those in a same-sex marriage is no less than his love for us.

As others have noted, the Catholic Church does not involve itself in questions regarding an employee’s sexual orientation—unless acted upon.

In this case however, Shelly Fitzgerald’s same-sex marriage involves a sexual orientation that by any objective measure was clearly acted upon—and admittedly violated a signed employment contract with the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

We want to sincerely thank Archbishop Thompson for his statements on this matter which make clear these important distinctions supporting fundamental Catholic Church doctrine and teaching.

We also want to express our recognition of Shelly Fitzgerald’s many gifts and her obvious positive contributions to many of her Roncalli student charges.

As stated above, we have no doubt that God’s love for Shelly Fitzgerald is no less than his love for us. She remains in our prayers.

David A. Nealy, Holy Rosary Parish, Indianapolis
Anntoinette J. Nealy, Holy Rosary Parish, Indianapolis
Norbert Lindenmaier, St. Roch Parish, Indianapolis
Kurt Schlegel, St. Roch Parish, Indianapolis

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