Letters

‘Whole-life’ WitnessRe “The State of the Family” (Editorial, 2/9): For those of us who promote a “whole-life” policy, the need to support parents and their children is part of being pro-life. Organizations like Democrats for Life of America, Feminists for Life and

A Catholic PragmatistRe Of Many Things, by Matt Malone, S.J. (2/2): Given Father Malone’s political training before joining the Society of Jesus, I’m surprised by his traditional Catholic interpretation of Mr. Cuomo’s two famous speeches. Mr. Cuomo was the ultimate pragma

No Simple Solutions“The Feminist Case Against Abortion,” by Serrin M. Foster (1/19), is one of the more reasoned and thoughtful approaches to the thorny abortion issue that I have read. And it is a thorny issue. At times it seems that abortion opponents are on the opposite of a

Life FormationRe “The Feminist Case Against Abortion," by Serrin M. Foster (1/19): The past has so much to teach us, and its lessons are essential to the life-long formation of the conscience and the soul. I am a cradle Catholic but, like many of my age, had fallen away from the church wh

Why They ComeRe “A Nation of Immigrants” (Editorial, 1/5): I agree the issue of illegal immigration is more complex than a border fix. Shouldn’t we ask: why do they come? I had the mistaken impression back in the days of the Clinton administration that Mexican farmers would welcome

Living LawRe “Has Natural Law Died?” by John J. Conley, S.J. (12/22): Speaking as a lawyer, I would argue that natural law is, for the first time in the last few centuries, actually starting to take hold—just not within the church. In particular, natural law concepts are now findin

Family UnityI second the Rev. Robert P. Imbelli in “Family in Focus” (12/8). Father Imbelli emphasizes the importance of prayer in this process of discernment, and I would add Scripture to that. I am reminded of the Gospel reading at my wedding, “That they may be one,” from J

Not A Choice“The Loneliest Choice” (12/1), by the Rev. Rhonda Mawhood Lee, disappointed me greatly. While pastoral reflection on suicide remains a crucial topic, the article seems to hark back to pre-Enlightenment days, when there was little understanding of grave mental illness. Fo

Giving ThanksRe “Retiring With Dignity,” Mary Ann Walsh, R.S.M. (10/17): Sister Mary Ann couldn’t be more correct in her description of complex decisions facing congregations of men and women religious today. The National Religious Retirement Office provides significant financial a

Family RevelationRe “Go in Peace” (Editorial, 11/10): St. Pope John Paul II, in “Familiaris Consortio,” states that “The Christian family is a specific revelation and realization of ecclesial communion, and for this reason too it can and should be called ‘the dome