 |
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
|
|||||||||
April
23, 2007
VOL.
45, NO. 8Oakland,
CA
|
RAISE YOUR VOICE Last
week’s massacre at Virginia Tech provokes our deepest feelings
of grief and compassion for the victims, their families, and the
entire campus community. It also raises our anger that a culture
of violence continues to grow, taking not just the students and
professors at one university, but also the sons and daughters of
our neighbors here in the Bay Area. Monica Clark, Editor |
Pray
for our ailing earth
We are now aware of the disastrous effects of global warming. While scientists
are frantically trying to find alternative energy sources and ways to
contain the rise of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, we are also aware
that it is too late to stop what is happening at this very moment, the
melting of the ice glaciers in both the North and South Poles.
While the advancement in science has brought man to the moon and farther
to view other planets, scientists are faced with a challenge that seems
to confront them with the fact that they are not almighty after all. It
will take our scientists many more years to find an antidote to what is
happening right now.
This is where our faith comes in. We, who believe that God made this world,
also believe that only God can help us heal this world from its illness.
I remember when as a student in a Catholic high school, we were so afraid
of nuclear explosions during the Cold War. The pope told us to pray for
the conversion of Russia, so all the students began the day praying for
this conversion. When Pope John Paul II led the world to convince Russia
to settle for peace, we knew our prayers had been answered.
I think the pope and bishops should not miss this opportunity to show
all the faithful that this is what faith is all about. I am appealing
to the pope to come to our rescue.
Maybe now he should use mass media to appeal to the world to pray, pray
and pray. He should lead us to greater devotion to Our Lady of Fatima
to help us intercede for a miracle to cure this ailing earth. He should
awaken each Catholic family to pray the rosary every day because we will
all be affected by this global warming.
Praxedes Calbes
El Cerrito
Facts
on Planned Parenthood
I would like to inform the American people on a few facts about where
our tax monies go.
Planned Parenthood was founded in 1916 and for 47 years survived on donations
and fees charged in its clinics. In 1963 it reported a total income of
$6.2 million.
In 1964 it reported its first receipt of taxpayers money – $8,500.
Lyndon B. Johnson was president.
In 1965, thanks to the Supreme Court, taxpayers money to Planned Parenthood
almost doubled to $16,825.
In 1970 came Title X of Health and Humane Services Act. In 1973 the government
gave Planned Parenthood $26.4 million. In 1977 their income from the government
was $50.8 million.
Under Jimmy Carter in 1981 Planned Parenthood received $85.2 million.
President Reagan tried to end Title X monies going to any organization
that performed abortions. Planned Parenthood cried “foul”.
Bill Clinton undid the Reagan/Bush Title X regulations in his first few
weeks in office. When he left office, Planned Parenthood received $20.1
million in taxpayer money in just one year.
In 2005 Planned Parenthood received $272.7 million in taxpayer money.
These facts and more are from the American Life League.
LaVonne Stittle
Alameda
Death
penalty not excluded
The disgraceful hanging of Saddam Hussein did not befit the Culture of
Life taught by Pope John Paul II. But for those who would put capital
punishment on a par with abortion, the pope said in a 2004 memorandum
for the U.S. bishops:
“While the Church exhorts civil authorities to work for peace, not
war, and to exercise discretion and mercy in imposing punishment on criminals,
it may still be permissible to take up arms to repel an aggressor or to
have recourse to capital punishment.
“There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion among Catholics
about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not, however, with
regard to abortion and euthanasia.”
Saddam's hanging didn't promote the cause of peace, for sure, but Mother
Teresa said “The greatest destroyer of peace is abortion because
if a mother can kill her own child, what is left -- for me to kill you
and you to kill me? There is nothing between.”
Jack Hockel
Walnut Creek
The opinions expressed in letters to Reader's Forum are the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Catholic Voice or the Oakland Diocese.
 |
| Contributions to Reader's Forum should be limited to 250 words. Letters must be signed and must include the writer's address and phone number for verification purposes. All letters are subject to editing. Mail your letter to: The Catholic Voice FAX: (510) 893-4734 Our email address is: |
