Prisoners’ RightsRe “Peace and Toilet Paper” (Editorial, 3/23): When we incarcerate people, we deprive them not only of their freedom, but of rights that you and I take for granted. Many well-meaning citizens have told me that when someone commits a crime, they give up all their ri

Listening WellRe “On Dying Well,” by Jessica Keating, and “Ars Moriendi” (Editorial, 3/16): People are often surprised when I tell them that in my 17 years as a hospice chaplain, I have had relatively few people discuss assisted suicide. Granted, it is illegal here and theref

Vigilant JusticeRe “Listening in Ferguson,” by J. Augustine Wetta, O.S.B. (3/9): The Ferguson incident began with the policeman verbally attacking Michael Brown and his companion, shouting at them with rough language. Would it not be better if law officers always chose courtesy over domi

Health Care RhetoricRe “A Sense of Solidarity,” by Kevin P. Quinn, S.J. (3/2): I was very disturbed by the generalization and characterization of “most, if not all, conservative opposition” in the review of Health Care as a Social Good, by David M. Craig. The implication is t

To Cuba’s CreditRe “A ‘Francis Effect’ in Cuba” (Current Comment, 2/23): Having served as the pastor of two parishes in Santa Clara, Cuba, from 1994 to 1998, I think I ought to point out some errors in this commentary. The editors write that “conditions in the cou

Local ProcessRe: “The Annulment Dilemma,” by Msgr. Paul V. Garrity (2/16): Finally, a seasoned pastor who is able to put a human face on the trials, tribulations and trauma faced by faithful Catholics seeking an annulment in our overly complicated and overly legalistic process. While I a

‘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

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