‘War Never Again’

Dear Editor: When I see on the back page of The Tablet’s Year-end Review in Photos (Dec. 29), a picture that glorifies war, I am confounded. The picture, which highlighted a banner which read “Win the War or lose to Jihad,” goes against everything that I learned about Jesus in the Gospels. What do we Catholics not understand about “Thou shalt not kill”?

Pope Paul VI, at the U.N. in New York, quoted Isaiah the prophet when he said, “No more war. War never again.” The Popes — from Benedict XV, a pacifist, who said that the way to peace was the Beatitudes and listening to Jesus’ statement, “Love one another as I have loved you,” to Benedict XVI, who has cried out against this war and for peace — have stood against war and for peace. Every Christmas, the popes cry out with a message of peace and we don’t listen. Nor, it seems, do we read our Scriptures about the Prince of Peace. 

Let us not glorify war or the military ever again. We would do well to remember that only when our hearts break over the sufferings of all people, including the people of Iraq and Afghanistan, those poor victims of our bombs and guns, will God be able to enter into our hearts. 

Father Coman Brady 
East Flatbush

Editor’s Note: Father Brady is the pastor of St. Vincent Ferrer parish. 

Dangerous Legislation Pending

Dear Editor: In Bishop DiMarzio’s column (Dec. 1), he reminds us as Catholics that we have an obligation to oppose legislation that is morally corrupt. He goes on to explain that as voters, we may make a distinction between policies that are intrinsically evil and those that involve prudential judgment. I have to ask myself as a resident of New York State, is there anything that can justify the proposed legislation of Same-Sex Marriages or the Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act?  It appears that Gov. Eliot Spitzer and some of our elected representatives have no regard for the moral or ethical principles of the people they represent.

The Same-Sex Marriage Act is a direct attack against the sanctity of marriage. All individuals are equally protected under current New York State law. The Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act is the most extreme infringement upon the moral rights of all individuals who believe in the sanctity of life. People in the medical profession and all related organizations and services including Catholic facilities will be directly affected. The Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act is intended to guarantee abortion as a fundamental right of all women regardless of age or gestation period. The governor intends to eliminate all current State laws that conflict with his proposed legislation. We will lose our constitutional right of freedom of conscience, and expressions of dissent will be considered an act of discrimination.

Gov. Spitzer requested this legislation, and with the 2008 Legislative session beginning on Jan. 9, the governor will demand action on both of these bills. There are powerful self interest organizations supporting him that will intimidate anyone opposed to the passage of this legislation. We must do our part by supporting our local representatives and letting them know we are against this legislation. If the governor and the special interest groups get their way, New York City will become the new Sodom, and the State will become the nation’s slaughterhouse of defenseless children. 

Philip Heery
Flushing

Another Influential Book

Dear Editor: In response to Father Lauder’s question (Dec. 8) about a book that has affected me deeply, I would have to say it was “Black Like Me,” by John Howard Griffin.

It was the 1960s and I was 11 years old. My older sister was attending an all-girls high school and it was her assigned reading. What an intriguing title I thought, as I gently wiggled it off her book shelf. It was an eye opener. I inhaled it. When I finished the book and at last looked up from its pages, the whole world had changed. This is literature with the capacity to transform lives.

Nancy Rakoczy
Brooklyn

Tablet Available on High Seas

Dear Editor: Recently I had the opportunity to serve the Catholic passengers, crew and officers as a chaplain on a cruise ship. I must say that it is a blessing that Internet access is always available for a nominal fee.

I am so grateful that The Tablet posts its issues on the web and makes them available so quickly for those who are traveling anywhere in the world.
Readers of our diocesan newspaper should check out The Tablet online. Kudos to the many employees of The Tablet who truly work so tirelessly in making each issue a pleasure to read when at home or on the high seas!

Father Frank Mann
College Point

The Power of Silent Prayer

Dear Editor: The essential basic prayer is silent prayer where the mind is kept quiet. It is called Prayer of the Heart and Contemplation.

It is basic to Christian spirituality. It is at the heart of Centering Prayer. I recommend Father Thomas Keating’s “Centering Prayer”; Father Thomas Merton’s “Opening the Bible,” “Spiritual Prayer,” and “Contemplative Prayer”; and Father Richard Rohr. There are many more but these are the authors I go to, as well as Scripture, of course.

Scripture, silence (Prayer of the Heart), and celebration (Worship) are the simple basics of a prayer life. Silence is being promoted more and more. It’s an encounter with God. It is key to encountering God.

Joseph P. Franklin
Wurtsboro, NY

More Bright Christmas Thanks

Dear Editor: I want to express to you my sincere thanks for the generous gift to the people of Our Lady of Solace parish from the Bright Christmas fund. I think of the children whose Christmas was brighter because of your gift, but also of the parents who were able to see the smiles on their children’s faces on Christmas morning.

Again, thank you very much and may God bless all who helped to make this Christmas brighter for our families.

Father Patrick West
Coney Island

Dear Editor: Thank you for your generous donation from The Tablet’s Bright Christmas Fund to the children of Colin-Newell Head Start! You have made a significant contribution that will be appreciated by all.

Clyde Creamer
Program Manager
Jamaica

Okay with ‘Happy Holidays’

Dear Editor: In reading your Dec. 12 editorial “Public View of Christmas,” I experienced the same puzzlement that confronts me when I hear any number of views at this time of the year under the general rubric “war on Christmas” in the public media. 

If all these “desired” public expressions of the Christmas holiday were to be abolished immediately, I can’t think of anything about my faith, belief in the Incarnation or practice of same that would change.  Is anyone forcing me to deny my Christian belief in Christ’s birth, or preventing me from worshiping on Christmas Day?  Isn’t December 25th still a federal holiday? 

Sometimes I think we Christians forget that we live in the United States — united in our support of the Constitution that nowhere mentions God or Christ. And so while many urge us to offer a “Merry Christmas” or send only religious greeting cards, I can’t do that to my many friends who are not Christian but celebrate their own religious holidays at this time of year as citizens of the United States.

Frankly, most of what is urged as desired public Christmas displays has very little to do with the meaning of Christmas and is more geared to commercialism. I listened to our president’s Christmas message and the many Republican presidential candidates’ Christmas wishes. All these are greetings in the Christmas season from those who in most of their political agendas promote exactly the opposite of Christ’s message; but “Merry Christmas” anyway!

I believe in Jesus’ message: render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s. So, Happy Holidays and a peaceful New Year to everyone.

Joseph J. Koechler
Ormond Beach, FL

Reusing Christmas Cards

Dear Editor: I would like to know where I can send my used Christmas cards to be recycled for other purposes. Could you forward me these addresses if they exist?

Elaine O’Keeffe
Brooklyn

Editor’s Note: You can send those used Christmas cards, as well as statues, rosaries, pens and pencils to Father Paul Cruz, PO Box 691 571, Kottiyam - P.O. Kollam - 691 571 Kerala, India.