The following letters to the editor appear in the edition of Jan. 29, 2004. Letters appearing in this space do not necessarily reflect the views of the Arlington Catholic Herald or the Catholic Diocese of Arlington. The editor reserves the right to edit letters as necessary. There is no guarantee of publication. Send letters to: letters@catholicherald.com.

Christ-Bearers

I was inspired by Bishop Loverde’s encouragement to us to be peacemakers by bringing the Prince of Peace into our daily life and to make it our resolution for 2004 (ACH 1/8/04). I am a sixth-grade home school student, and I would like my family and others to use Bishop Loverde’s suggestion to strengthen our New Year resolution by praying three "Hail Mary’s" every morning and evening with the request: "O Mary, make me, like you, one who brings Christ and His Peace to others."

Gjon Kadeli
Falls Church

‘Pro-Life’ Not for America

The annual nationwide pro-life marches are now over, and I thought a few comments might be in order. Sorry to disillusion anyone, but most Americans, including Catholics and our government, are not pro-life. Unfortunately, the terms pro-life and pro-choice are just convenient euphemisms to hide our society’s serious failings.

We all know the term pro-choice masks the reality of destroying unborn infants. Sadly the term pro-life is equally misleading. Pro-life serves only the pro-unborn movement — important, yes, but merely the tip of our nation’s immoral iceberg. Let’s not kid ourselves and feel overly righteous for supporting this cause.

It costs us virtually nothing or our pro-life government to support the unborn. But once an unborn child enters our world at a hospital, the situation changes drastically; the real work, struggle and expenditures begin. We need to ensure that every new born infant has access to that requisite health, care and education to become a mainstream — not marginal — American.

Talking the talk simply won’t cut it. Our government must allocate the essential resources required — not fine-sounding but meaningless slogans. In my view we are doing none too well on real pro-life issues. We are the richest nation in the world yet deny tens of millions of our poorer citizens the health, protection and social support they need — the basic services routinely provided their citizens by other affluent nations. Conversely, we surpass the world in crime, violence, drug use, pornography and disdain for our poor and disadvantaged. Yet, ironically, we pride ourselves as being the most religious and church-going nation.

A real pro-life people and society would demand their government provide not only words of compassion but deeds. Our Catholic Church should lead in this effort and insist that our citizens and elected political leaders strive to make America not only a pro-unborn, more importantly, a pro-life nation.

Unfortunately, our society and government seem willing only to commit meaningless words rather than actual resources to transform America from a pro-profit to a pro-life nation. In this era of terrorism, I believe America’s greatest danger is not from outside our borders but from within.

Pogo, a cartoon character of the Vietnam era, said it best: We have met the enemy and he is us.

F.J. Lenoach
Springfield

Educators Need Marian Devotion

With great interest I read "Panelist Address Challenges Ahead for Catholic Schools" (ACH 1/22/04). As one who has just begun formal studies in the education field, I am now more keenly aware of the state of Catholic education in the U.S.

What strikes me is that the panelist sees the clergy sexual abuse crisis as the major reason for the loss of credibility of the Church. This crisis is just one of the symptoms of a much bigger one: the loss of faith that has characterized the 20th century. How did we get to the point where some 70 percent of adult U.S. Catholics do not believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist?

No, the crisis is not just with our priests. The challenge to Catholic educators is not just to find leaders or to be a "vital presence in American culture and in Catholic education." The awesome responsibility before us is to believe wholeheartedly that: "true education is directed toward the formation of the human person in view of his final end … " (The Second Vatican Council, "On Christian Education," "Gravissimum Educationis").

If we listen to the prophetic voice of our Holy Father, we hear we are on the verge of a "springtime of Christianity." Really? How does he dare say this? Is it that he has listened to and heeded the voice of Our Lady in her prayer, which she teaches all of us to pray? "Oh most holy Trinity … I believe, I adore, I hope and I love Thee. I offer Thee the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in reparation for the blasphemies, the indifference and the sacrileges with which He is offended."

It is imperative that we educators also listen to and heed the voice of our Mother because she is the great teacher of our times, showing us what Jesus really wants. He wants our belief in His Eucharistic presence, He wants our hope in Him and He wants our love. It is my hope that all educators fall in love with Jesus and flock to visit Him frequently in the Blessed Sacrament. It will be through this example that we will groom "young people in the deep recesses of the faith tradition."

I pray the strategic plan of the National Catholic Education Association includes as the major operand Jesus in the Eucharist plus our Blessed Mother. Only then will educators have an equation that will result in truly educating our youth to know, to love and to serve our Christ.

Sandra Vera
Oakton

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