Denial of Free Speech

Dear Editor: On Nov. 18, I attended a hearing hosted by the Human Rights Committee of the New York City Council. The Clinic Access Bill #826, sponsored by 29 Council members was the subject of the hearing, which began at 10 a.m. and ended after 3 p.m. Only about 12 Council members were present and the assigned chairperson was left to conduct the hearing alone by midday. No transcripts or videos of the hearing are available for either absent Council members or the public, and a vote on the bill is reportedly scheduled for Dec. 9.

Judging from the thank yous directed to the directors, operators and pro-choice advocates present, the bill was drafted in response to complaints brought to the attention of Council members by this sector of the city. Though documentation of their complaints was not presented, their claims were accepted as legitimate enough for the Council to draft a piece of legislation.

An attorney representing the Mayor’s Office described the new legislation, explaining how it differed from the existing law it replaces. One of the prime differences relates to who will be authorized to make complaints and press changes against those deemed in violation of the new law. Affirming an interest in protecting the confidentiality of their patients, the clinic operators and their supporters will reportedly act on behalf of their clients, offering what they judge are acts implying intent, which alone, if accepted by the court, would be deemed offenses, punishable by imprisonment and fines.

Opponents of the law and their representatives were notably concerned about the vagueness of the legislation, straining to have its authors define the term “harassment.” Some opponents of the bill whose actions at abortion clinics are principally aimed at providing information, support and referrals to sites offering services other than abortion, fear that this new power awarded abortion providers will deter volunteers stationed at these abortion facilities from legitimately offering assistance. Not only are they concerned about the denial of their right of protest, but they are also concerned that granting abortion providers the right to bring charges without involving those allegedly harassed or deterred, is a denial of their Sixth Amendment rights.

The 37 or more opponents of Bill #826 spoke out strongly against abortion, noting the unintended consequences of this decision to have an abortion and the lack of information provided to those seeking to undergo this surgical procedure.

One wonders if such a faulty piece of legislation will stand up under legal review. However it is my impression, based on the observations and assertions of those who offer “sidewalk counseling” and the clinic owners and directors who speak of the seriousness of an abortion decision, that pregnant women should be provided with quality information about the procedure they are about to accept. If the government licenses abortion facilities, asserting as they do that by doing this they are preventing the tragedies associated with “back alley” abortions, they should mandate that those contemplating this procedure be provided with at least as much information as anyone undergoing other forms of surgery. This information should be offered by professionals whose interest is clearly not a conflict of interest.

Donald J. Young
East Elmhurst

Dear Editor: The monthly Rosary procession for the defense of human life conducted under the leadership of Msgr. Phil Reilly and the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants for the defense of mothers and their unborn babies was met on Saturday, Nov. 15, by a raucous cacophony of drums, whistles, parodies of hymns and songs, trumpets, tubas, flutes, and loud yelling by a crowd of about 20 bizarrely dressed supporters of the killing of unborn children (a.k.a. abortion), all of which appeared to be intended to drown out our recitation of the Rosary and hymns.

It doesn’t seem far-fetched to suspect that this increased harassment of our effort to protect our unborn is a way of celebrating the apparent victory of the Culture of Death with the election of Barack Obama and a harbinger of more intense attacks to come.

As Detective Steven McDonald who in his wheelchair accompanied us remarked at the end, he said he felt more strongly on this occasion than others what it meant to be a Catholic, a disciple of Jesus. And I think I am speaking for most, if not all who were with us, that this experience intensified our resolve to make sure we are at as many future Rosary processions as possible. Join us! The next Rosary procession will be on Dec. 13 at 7:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s Church on Court and Congress Sts., in Cobble Hill.

Father Alfred R. Guthrie
College Point

Disheartened by Election

Dear Editor: I was disheartened to see the “Catholic” Northeast solidly behind this Nov. 4th “cultural earthquake.” Our own people are in lock-step with the secular godless forces, looking to undermine our sacred freedoms.

You may want to reprint some parts of James Francis Cardinal Stafford’s speech at Catholic University on Nov. 13. There were some powerful quotes with which your readers should be made aware. Our president-elect was criticized for being “extremist, disruptive and apocalyptic.” His Eminence also stated that he ran on an “extremist, anti-life platform.” My favorite quote was, “Because man is a sacred element of secular life, man should not be held to a supreme power of state, and a person’s life cannot be ultimately controlled by government. “For the next few years, Gethsemane will not be marginal.  We will know that garden.” 

We Catholics have a duty to lead and transform the world and not be corrupted by it.

Michael J. Mattes

Neponsit

Dear Editor: Let me refer to the self-called “Catholics” who follow the dictates of their consciences when voting for the candidate who strongly supports abortion.

Some people don’t know or don’t want to know that life starts in the moment of conception and interrupting that life is a grave sin. One of the Commandments is not to kill. If you are with me, follow my Commandments, said the Lord.

Rodrigo Ruiz
Woodside  

Saddened by Student’s Letter

Dear Editor: Are we Catholic Christians or not?  

I cannot believe Ryan Ross’s letter entitled “A Student’s Response!” Little did Abraham Lincoln know that one day America would be a government “of the people” intoxicated by journalism.    

Don’t we teach our children that life is the most sacred gift from God? Jesus would never condone killing babies. Over 4,000 babies are being murdered in the womb daily. This should have been the primary concern of all Christians of every race. Everything else follows life. 

Liberty means security, and the pursuit of happiness will logically produce a good economy!  However, a great number of Americans have abandoned God for sexual freedom, abortion, and greed. That is why we are in this economic mess. How can God bless us?   

Thanks to journalism and the mass media, so many, brain-washed Christians have voted for the most radical, leftist, liberal infanticide of all politicians in the U.S. 

Christopher Amato
Bay Ridge  

Dear Editor: It was sad to read the letter from Ryan Ross where he judges Republicans as being rich, anti-poor people, anti-workers and uncaring.  Republicans come in all classes of life, creeds and sex and for many our first issue is respect for life of all individuals. Without life there is nothing.

Secondly, many rich people do a lot of good work helping poor people as well as trying to teach them to become self-reliant and then help others which is what Jesus also taught.  

President-elect Obama as well as all of his pro-choice supporters should realize that there will never be a president who will say that their grandparent/parents were aborted because with abortion there is no next generation.  

Therefore, no one reading this can deny that of the three, slavery, Holocaust and abortion, abortion has to be the worst, because there will never be people sitting around a table stating that their parents/grandparents survived abortion.  

Your story on the front page of the November 29th Tablet shows that the people who are pro-life are having their rights taken away on a daily basis.  If you don’t believe that is true, just go to any blogs and either write on them or look up the words slavery and/or pro-life and see how you are attacked by so many people out there.

Fran Ruocco
Brooklyn