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Kerry and the church
* The New York Times and CNN are reporting that some American bishops are meeting with Vatican officials to specifically discuss Sen. John Kerry, a lifelong practicing Catholic. It was reported that the church hierarchy, bowing to criticism from the conservative wing of the church, are discussing Kerry's openly pro-choice stance on abortion and his position on stem-cell research to ostensibly decide how to instruct American Catholics to vote.
This move by the church clerics is yet another chilling indication of the Catholic hierarchy's draconian attempts to exert control over the political as well as religious behavior of Catholics and is an egregious violation of the separation of church and state. It is noteworthy that while the pope condemned the U.S. invasion of Iraq and its continued occupation of that country as an act of immorality, there was no huddle at the Vatican to discuss condemning conservative Catholic politicians who supported the war. Similarly, there is no outcry among American bishops and the Vatican for the multitude of other ways conservative politicians violate the church's social gospel.
If the Vatican makes the mistake of condemning Sen. Kerry, it may finally succeed in destroying the Catholic church in the United States. If, as I expect, the bishops formally condemn Sen. Kerry and, in effect, "order" American Catholics to vote Republican, my family and I - and I suspect many others as well - will leave the Roman Catholic church for good.
STEPHEN H. GUERIN
Fayetteville, Tenn.
* The confusion in the secular media about abortion and Catholic politicians causes ill will among Catholics. Sen. Kerry, for one, does not oppose Catholic church teaching on abortion. He opposes trying to solve the problem by law with its accompanying penalties. Law could merely drive abortion underground and create the same evils that existed under the prohibition of alcohol. I would like to see legislation tried, but I cannot condemn those who differ in opinion. One consolation all have is that polls show that our teaching of the beauty and sacredness of life is having success. This could also be a wiser course than the political.
(Fr.) CONNELL J. MAGUIRE
Riviera Beach, Fla.
* Regarding the April 23 article by Ono Ekeh, he makes some...