The following letters to the editor appear in the edition of July 15, 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.

The Week of Graces

I used to wonder why Our Lady of Fatima appeared to young children until Mary Wallington and I decided in 1991 to create a Catholic vacation school curriculum we called "The Week of Graces." Since that time, many other Vacation Bible School (VBS) programs have sprung up with a variety of approaches. Some rely on catchy themes and materials designed to attract and divert children in an effort to hold interest and make VBS fun. But, in creating our curriculum, Mary and I trusted to the efficacy of Catholic rituals, sacramentals and saints.

Teaching virtues using plastic bugs, whistles, polar bears, or beach paraphernalia is indeed good if it achieves the goal without confusing or trivializing the faith. But is it not better to let children experience God's loving graces by praying in church, singing hymns, adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, honoring Our Lady and doing activities and crafts using Catholic paraphernalia such as holy cards, statues, rosaries and holy water? These are not secular gimmicks to catch their attention, but authentic sources of grace that can actually strengthen young souls to become more virtuous and holy.

Eleven years with "The Week of Graces" has shown me why the Blessed Mother chose to visit children. They are naturally hungry for spiritual truths; they have a receptivity to grace that continually amazes me. Children's catechesis does not need to disguise the truth behind cute toys, cartoon clowns, or arctic adventures; when shown the beautiful grandeur and awesome dignity of Christ and His Church — the rich liturgical and cultural heritage that is their birthright as Catholics — children respond to the challenge by embracing Christ, who reaches out to embrace them.

Carol Anne Jones
Director of Religious Education
St. Theresa Parish
Ashburn

Free Clinics ‘Fill the Gaps’

I was touched by the article from Father Rausch that talked about a friend who died because she was poor and without health insurance (ACH 06/24/04). As executive director of a free clinic that sees low-income uninsured clients, I, too, am often shocked and dismayed at the poor health conditions people sometimes suffer when they can’t afford to see a doctor. I, too, believe we need to make this a national priority — to educate ourselves as voters and ensure that our leaders know that we care about this issue.

Even with government intervention, however, we will not solve all the problems. The new prescription benefits offered by Medicare, for example, have helped but are not a magic pill. Most seniors on low-incomes still can’t afford all their medications. There will always be people who fall through the cracks of government programs.

That is where free clinics come in. They are designed by their communities to help fill the gaps in the healthcare safety net. And individuals and their church communities can make a huge difference in their own neighborhoods.

Free clinics are dependent on the generosity of volunteers and donors. They receive very little, if any, government funds. Virginia ranks near the bottom in expenditures for governmental healthcare programs like Medicaid, and by no coincidence, has the largest number of free clinics of any state in the union. Free clinics already exist in Arlington, Fauquier County, Fredericksburg, Frederick County, Loudoun County, Rappahannock County, Shenandoah County and Warren County, to name a few in this diocese.

You as an individual, and through your church or church group, can help guarantee healthcare for your neighbors through volunteering or donating to the free clinic in your region. We would appreciate your prayers as well. "I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me … " (Mt 25:35).

We can let our neighbors live, and die, without sufficient healthcare or we can do something about it. For more information about the free clinic in your area, go to www.vafreeclinics.org. For information about the crisis of the uninsured, go to www.covertheuninsuredweek.org.

Pam Murphy
Executive Director
Shenandoah County Free Clinic
Woodstock

Encouraging Article

I appreciated Mary Beth Bonacci’s article on God’s timing and action on our behalf (ACH 7/1/04). I liked her well-constructed arguments and practical guidance. Her thoughts also seem biblically based.
For instance, I notice whenever a person from Scripture approaches Christ for a healing, the issue is out of the person’s hands. This is the case with the raising of Lazarus from death, the feeding of the multitude with loaves and fish, the unexpected wine shortage and miracle at the wedding celebration and other biblical narratives. These narratives illustrate clearly that God frequently acts when the issue is out of our hands. Therefore, I can see where prayer to God may sometimes be particularly appropriate when we have done everything sensibly possible on our end.
Besides that, it should be less difficult to see God’s power and majesty in circumstances that even the most clever person with advanced knowledge from all the wiretaps in the northern hemisphere could not have predicted or orchestrated. What better way to show evidence of God’s involvement? It is akin to the "Hail Mary" in sports tactics — the long shot by human standards, but piece of cake by Christ’s.

Thank you for publishing her practical reflections. I usually find myself thinking, "Tell me something new" whenever I read articles related to spirituality, but her article was both welcome and instructive. Better still, it encouraged me on a soggy day.

Name withheld by request

Clear Description

I would like to congratulate Dr. James Hitchcock on his clear and concise description of the abortion crisis and the scandal of giving the Eucharist to "pro-choice" politicians (ACH 7/8/04, pg. 5). The U.S. bishops have approached this matter by tip-toeing around the issue and leaving the decision to deny the Eucharist up to the local bishop.

This makes no sense to me. Does the truth change from diocese to diocese? Of course not. A child is just as dead in the Diocese of Arlington as in the Diocese of Richmond. The implications of this action are far reaching.

Consider this. John Kerry wins in November and becomes President. He continues to ignore the bishops' request and attends Catholic Mass and receives the Eucharist ad lib. He does not repent of his views and continues to support abortion on demand etc. The message is sent that it does not matter what the Church says or teaches. Catholics can do whatever they want. The Church then becomes irrelevant as it will be relegated to window dressing for this "Catholic" president. This is not just true for Kerry but also for the other politicians, Republicans, who are pro-choice. The Church will then face schism.

I believe that it is time for Catholics to stand up and express their disgust for the handling of this issue. The Church must recapture the moral high ground that it has lost during the sex scandals. Perhaps it is time to publicly show this by kneeling to receive communion in silence. This would show reverence for the Eucharist while making a very significant point. You cannot publicly undermine the Church and still be in "communion" with the Church.

It is time for action, not passivity. The Church we love will be hurt in the long-run if we just stay on the sidelines and watch the charade.

Thomas J. Ryan
Oakton

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