The following letters to the editor appear in the edition of April 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.

Questionable Record

Is the Bush campaign kidding when they bring Vice President Dick Cheney out to attack John Kerry's record on national security?

When John Kerry was serving his country in Vietnam, risking his life and earning three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, and a Silver Star, Dick Cheney was getting deferments to avoid service.

Dick Cheney still has financial ties to Halliburton, the company that has been mired in bribery and profiteering scandals in Iraq. As Secretary of Defense, Cheney led the fight to close military bases and reduce the size of our military.

John Kerry has a very strong record of fighting for the security of our nation as a soldier and a senator. If the Bush/Cheney campaign wants to attack his record, they had better find someone with a little more credibility than Dick Cheney.

Jesse Berney
Washington, D.C.

Eucharistic Leverage

Barring pro-abortion legislators from receiving the Eucharist is an extreme act of partisanship. I am pro-life, but I also think that restricting an elected official who may have cast a public vote against a teaching of the Church from receiving the Eucharist is exclusionary in a most dangerous way. Do the U.S. bishops really want to start making a list of politicians who are not to receive the Eucharist? The silence of all but a handful leads me to believe not.

Nevertheless, why is Archbishop Raymond Burke of St. Louis targeting legislators based on the abortion issue alone? Will he append his canonical ruling to also restrict lawmakers that are for capital punishment? What about the legislators that do not uphold the social justice teachings of the Gospels? Will they be excluded? Or those Catholics that are for the war in Iraq, against the advisement of our Holy Father. Will they be expelled from the table of our Lord, too?

The abortion issue as the sole criteria for whether or not a legislator is barred is a clear target against certain politicians. The restrictive decree has found its way into radio airwaves and newsprint so much in recent days that it was reported as if to be reprehensible when John Kerry received Communion last weekend. However, if other issues, such as those above, were also included in the criteria for barring, then possibly no Catholic politician-Democrat or

Republican-would be able to receive Communion. It is my hope that the use of the Eucharist as leverage against legislators will cease.

Lawrence Caines
Arlington

Encouraged by Witness

We were encouraged to read the article on Sister Connie Parcasio, Director of Prison Ministry, death vigil with Mr. Denis Orbe, who was executed on March 31, 2004 (ACH 4/22/04, page one). We now can understand what takes place at an execution from the experience of Sister Connie, as she spent the last moments of Mr. Orbe's life with him.

At the same time, others were at prayer vigils around the state. Pax Christi, Warrenton, has been on the steps of the Fauquier County Courthouse for prayer vigils on the night of an execution in the state of Virginia. We have gathered for four years, having missed just on execution. We are joined in prayer with other prayer vigils that are happening around the state at the same time, to pray for the end of state-sanctioned deaths by execution.

We commend Sister Connie for her journey with Mr. Orbe. The beatitudes are to be taken seriously. Thank you, Sister, for your witness.

Irena Navatta
Chairperson, Pax Christi
Warrenton

Mercy and Kindness

I am writing in regards to Kenneth Brown’s letter "Helping Christian Countries" (ACH 4/22/04, page 4). Brown suggested, "The least important places in the world to sacrifice American lives and wealth are to prevent Muslims from killing Muslims." After reading his letter, I question Brown’s credibility as a Christian, Catholic and American. The idea that Muslims killing Muslims is acceptable because they do not share the same religious beliefs is appalling.

As a Christian, and more specifically a Catholic, Brown should be fully aware of Catholic doctrine. Catholics lovingly practice works of mercy for all mankind, with no regard for race, religion or creed. Since when has Jesus advocated helping only those who can give something in return? In fact, in Matthew 5:46, Jesus says, "If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even scoundrels so that much?"

As an American, Brown should know the basis on which this country was founded. One of our Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson, wrote in the Declaration of Independence, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." Americans are strong supporters of the sanctity of life. And yet, Brown lacks the American compassion for the life of a Muslim. Thankfully President Bush showed such humanity and is successfully liberating 24 million Iraqi people from an oppressive government.

Brown stated, "No societies are more inimical to our beliefs that Muslims." I disagree. In truth, Brown could learn a lesson from the Muslim faith. Ever heard of the words "steadfast" and "dedicated"? Many modern Christians lack such qualities. However, these traits are evident in common Muslim practices. Nevertheless, a lack of compassion for suffering and a lack of appreciation for the Muslim faith are apparent in Brown’s letter.

As written in Zechariah 7:9, "Then his message from the Lord came to Zechariah. ‘Tell them to be honest and fair and not to take bribes and to be merciful and kind to everyone.’"

Christopher Ojeda
Fairfax

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