The following letters to the editor appear in the edition of June 10, 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.

Obedience

Thank you for the editorial on G.K. Chesterton (ACH 5/27/04). He has remarkable insight into "politicians who were only concerned about getting into office and staying there rather than doing anything worthwhile." I immediately thought of John Kerry, Nancy Pelosi and several other politicians who are pro-choice and "practicing Catholics." This paradoxical idea stems from their lack of obedience to the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Obedience? Yes, obedience. What does obedience have to do with the moral issues in our post-techno world? Eveything. #1269 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, "Having become a member of the Church, the person baptized no longer belongs to himself, but to him who died and rose for us. From now on, he is called to be subject to others, to serve them in the communion of the Church, and to "obey and submit" to the Church’s leaders, (Heb 13:17) holding them in respect and affection (Eph 5:21; 1 Cor 16:15-16; 1 Thes 5:12-13; Jn 13:12-15). Obedience to the Catholic Church means following everything in the teachings of the Catechism. Yes, many of its dictates are difficult, sometimes seemingly impossible, but God’s grace gives us the strength to obey. You would be amazed at what other topics are in the Catechism — the effects of terrorism, the generosity of organ donation, the role of animals, the evils of drug trafficking and even the idolization of sports.

Obedience isn’t a high word that conjures a positive connotation, but there is truth in a mystic’s vision that the highest echelons of heaven occupy the most obedient souls. These souls learned that pride in their lives is the antithesis of obedience. In your daily life, where are the areas where a little more obedience and a little less pride are needed? Please keep this idea of obedience in mind in November during election season as well.

Mary Beth Burke
Ashburn

USCCB IsNot to Blame

In the article "Kerry and Kennedy" (ACH 5/13/04), Russell Shaw discusses the large number of unprioritized moral issues of concern to Catholics. He says: "Unfortunately, the Catholic bishops’ national organization has contributed to this particular confusion over the years by making quadrennial statements on political issues that reflect this unhelpful approach. The current version, last fall by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, covered topics from abortion to teachers’ salaries without attempting to set priorities."

We think he’s right on target, but he should not be blaming the USCCB! In 1998, the USCCB voted out a document by a large margin, LIVING THE GOSPEL OF LIFE: A Challenge to American Catholics. This document does prioritize issues and puts abortion and euthanasia right at the top, in agreement with a similar document authored by Pope John Paul II. In 1999, the Administrative Board of the United States Catholic Conference issued its quadrennial report, Faithful Citizenship, and on page 13 echoed the USCCB document: "Calls to advance human rights are illusions if the right to life itself is subject to attack."

In the 2003 issue of Faithful Citizenship, however, the Administrative Board of the United States Catholic Conference omitted that sentence, and thereby removed the priorities that had been set in 1999 by Pope John Paul II and the USCCB.

The fault is with the Administrative Board of the USCCB, not the USCCB.

Clare K. and William J. Richter, Jr.
Charleston, S.C.

Help Witness Against Abortion

Although small in number, a faithful group of Catholic pro-life stalwarts continue to meet every Sat. morning in front of the Falls Church Abortuary to sing our song of love to Mary, the Holy Rosary. We beg her to ask Jesus her dear Son to enlighten the hearts of women going into the clinic to murder their babies and to enlighten the hearts of the escorts surrounding the clinic and the doctor and nurses within the clinic who aid in Satan’s work.

Occasionally, like sunshine breaking through dark clouds, two are saved. Such was the case the second week in May when a mother with her intrauterine baby walked out of the clinic. Praise the Lord!

I encourage all readers of this article to join us at 900 S. Washington St. this coming Sat. If you are unfamiliar on how to get to the clinic, S. Washington St. beings where Lee Hwy. ends, at the intersection of Route 7 in Falls Church. The clinic is less than a mile down the road on the right hand side. The first group starts at 6:45 a.m., the second at about 7:30 a.m.

My dream is that so many of you will come that we will be able to out-sing the cicadas.

Dr. Joseph C. Evers
McLean

Canon Law and Holy Communion

Jenni Sheehey (ACH 5/20/04) misunderstands the question of enforcing Canon Law 915 by denying Holy Communion to publicly defiant Catholics. The Canon Law states:

"Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or the declaration of a penalty as well as others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Communion."

There is no request for any ordained priest, deacon or Eucharistic Minister to focus on "politics" by enforcing this Canon Law. The focus is on protecting the Body and Blood of Christ from compounding his or her sins until such time as he or she repents of his public disobedience to Church teaching.

A public figure who obstinately persists in manifest grave sin such as the advocacy of the killing of innocent persons by acts of abortion should not be admitted to Holy Communion. Politics has nothing to do with this.

Judie Brown
American Life League, Inc.
Stafford

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