Reasons to Praise the Lord

Dear Editor: This is in reply to the letter (Sept. 8) of Sal Avendanio of Elmhurst.
Mr. Avendanio had thoughts abut giving too much praise to the Lord and asked for readers’ opinions. I cannot give enough praise to the Lord for the healing blessings he has granted to my 11-year-old granddaughter Katie. Since June 18, we have called upon our parish churches to pray for Katie, the saints in Heaven for their intercessions and all our friends to ask the Lord to guide the physicians caring for Katie and to provide them with the knowledge they require to help her conquer the cancer that came upon her so suddenly.

We felt honored and blessed to learn on Sept. 7 that Katie’s cancer is in remission. How can we not sing the praises of the Lord! All of Katie’s family will never stop thanking our Lord and will give praise every day of our lives.

Mr. Avendanio must realize everyone gives thanks to the Lord in their own ways and praising our Lord is never in excess since there is much to be thankful for.

Eileen McBride
Belle Harbor

Dear Editor: The reason why we praise God is to thank Him for what He has given us and because He is Almighty God.

He gave us, among other things, the universe. Now this is a pretty big house. And when He created the universe, He could have put a voice in the sun, the moon, the stars and in the trees that would praise Him. But they are mute. The main job He gave us was to be the voice of the sun, the moon, stars, trees, etc., to praise and thank God for this gratuitous gift.

Jesus gave us 33 years of human existence and 2,000 years of living in all the tabernacles of the world. God is Love. He expects us to love Him, praise Him, and thank Him unceasingly for everything in creation, redemption and sanctification.

Joseph F. Murray
Saranac Lake, NY

Defending the Death Penalty

Dear Editor: This is in reply to Sister Camille D’Arienzo’s letter (Sept. 1) in which she addresses State Senator Serphin Maltese’s attempt to restore the death penalty in New York State. Sister writes that “the death penalty disrespects the teaching of our Church: its popes, bishops, religious leaders and informed laity.” In fact, it does no such thing.

As Justice Antonin Scalia of the Supreme Court has written: “It would be remarkable to think otherwise - that a couple of paragraphs in an encyclical almost entirely devoted not to crime and punishment but to abortion and euthanasia was intended authoritatively to sweep aside (if one could) two thousand years of Christian teaching” (First Things, May, 2002, p.21).

So you see, Senator Maltese is well within the bounds of his faith to support, as I and many other Catholics in good standing do, the death penalty. With all due respect to the informed laity, it is disheartening when one comes upon so many members of the Religious who are so uninformed concerning this issue.

Michael Kelly
Glen Oaks

Editor’s Note: What Pope John Paul II said was that while the death penalty is not objectively evil, it can only be justified when a society has no alternative to defending itself. He added that he did not see where in the world it could be justified today. Justice Scalia seems to take this position a bit too lightly.

Learning to Let Go

Dear Editor: The article “Learning to let go as your children grow up,” (Sept. 1) was excellent and hit a cord this weekend, in particular.  As a parent and an educator, the market and Web are filled with abundant advice on how to raise your child from conception to college, but once college ends, no one tells parents what to do.

At 21-22 they are still children whose primary job for the past for 16+ years was to go to school. Now what?  All of a sudden they are grown, expected to work, and they are searching to find themselves and we are caught in that search. I found this to be the most difficult time. 

I have one who is “about her father’s business,” but in our case it is her mother’s business (teaching).  Focused and headstrong, but only I know the challenges before her and want to protect her from the frustrations. And I have the other one who needs a push, as at the wedding of Cana, to find his business. 

These I feel are the most difficult times as a parent and I am happy to know I am not alone.  I am praying daily to God for guidance that I have the strength to let us all be about “our father’s business.” 
Thanks. It was a great article.

Mary Theresa Nelson
Bay Ridge

Where Are the Pro-Life Dems?

Dear Editor: I would like to comment briefly on the article (July 28) with the headline “Bishops to Meet with Dems About Iraqi War.”

Apparently a letter from Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) sent on behalf of himself and 13 other Catholic House Democrats to Bishop Thomas G. Wenski and Bishop William S. Skylstad, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, urging the bishops to increase their involvement in efforts to end the war in Iraq, has resulted in the scheduling of a meeting between the bishops and the congressmen on the subject.

I applaud Rep. Ryan and his 13 colleagues for their concerns with respect to such a troubling matter. However, there is another troubling matter which concerns me more, and that is the constant attempt by the Democrats in Congress to end the killing of our service men in Iraq on the one hand while condoning a carnage of far greater numbers on the other. I am alluding, of course, to abortion.

The platform of the Democratic Party is one of anti-war and pro-abortion. Catholic congressmen in both houses consistently failed to step forward to repudiate their party’s stand on the latter. I would like to see a group of Democratic Catholic congressmen send a letter to the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops indicating they are denouncing their party’s platform and they will do all in their power to make pro-life a tenet of the Democratic Party.

James J. Cleary
East Northport, L.I.

The Wisdom of Father Murray

Dear Editor: As parishioners of American Martyrs parish for over 15 years, we wish to validate the article published in The Tablet (Sept. 8) in reference to the passing of Father John J. Murray.

He was a model of grace under pressure. His willingness to use his own life experiences to assist and counsel others, his profound faith, his refreshing sense of humor and his genuine goodness earned him the love and admiration of those of us who were fortunate enough to cross paths with him. He leaves a tremendous void.

We also offer our compliments to those who organized the Vigil Mass on the eve of Father Murray’s funeral. Bishop Thomas V. Daily officiated with class and dignity. The warm eulogy and the overwhelming presence of diocesan priests in attendance were a fitting tribute to Father Murray.

May this extraordinary priest who brought peace and comfort to so many, now have the peace and eternal rest he so richly deserves.

Donna M. Sosna and Stephen Sica
Hollis Hills

Great Beach Celebration

Dear Editor: I believe I speak for the entire parish communities of St. Mary Star of the Sea and St. Gertrude who were privileged to participate in a special beach Mass on Sept. 8. The community celebrated the Feast of St. Mary Star of the Sea, during the parish’s 150th anniversary year.

How wonderful it was to see Beach 14th St. packed with an overflowing crowd of people. One could notice the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit working. Even those boardwalk-strollers and beach-goers not committed to any special religion seemed to have a desire to come into contact with the “transcendent,” as so many stopped to spend time with us, to ask questions and to experience our celebration. Without a doubt, this was the finest beach Mass celebration Far Rockaway has ever had.

We were happy and honored to welcome Bishop Caggiano, Vicar General, and so many priest concelebrants. The bishop’s homily highlighted: Mary, Mother of All Nations, “star above the ocean,” teaching us wisdom. We have always counted Bishop Caggiano as our special friend and thank him for all the support he has given to St. Mary’s and St. Gertrude’s so that we can all work to build up God’s Kingdom here in Far Rockaway.

Finally, thanks to all who made this day possible by their hard work and enthusiasm. Special gratitude to Father James Cunningham, pastor, for his planning, leadership and coordination. The gift of his ministry to us is both inspirational and much appreciated.

Sister Eileen M. McCabe, C.S.J.
Far Rockaway