Thank You to the Sisters of Charity
Dear Editor: It was with love and pride that I read about the Sisters of Charity- Halifax (“Many Decades Of Good Works,” Aug.31), celebrating their 100th anniversary in Brooklyn and 175 years of their founding.
Our parish, Our Lady Help of Christians, was privileged to have the Sisters teach us. Our pastor at the time was Father Henry Churchill (founding pastor), who brought the Sisters to OLHC in the 1930s.
I would like to say thank you, sisters, and God bless, especially to the following sisters: Sisters Rita Margaret, Timonthy Maria, Rose Theresa, Mary Dolores, Anita Catherine, Francis William, Rita Mercedes, and Agnes Gertrude, who was Principal.
I know many of these Sisters are with God now, but if not, thank you, and God bless.
Eternal rest grant the sisters who are home in heaven. My friend and classmate Jim O’Connor helped me compile the names of the nuns.
Michael Hallahan
Stormville, NY
Combating Poverty by Funding Education
Dear Editor: In his article entitled “Repurposing Bishops’ CCHD,” from Aug. 24, George Weigel presents a proposal on how the Catholic Church can effectively combat poverty in our country.
In 1969, American bishops, I believe at the suggestion of our own Bishop Francis J. Mugavery, established the Campaign for Human Development, by which funds raised at annual parish collections were used to fund anti-poverty programs.
Weigel rightfully points out that the most effective anti-poverty program established by the Church was Catholic schools that educated millions, lifting them out of poverty, to which many of us can attest.
Weigel proposes that the funds raised by the CCHD collections be used to fund urban Catholic schools that educate the poor, thereby allowing them to escape poverty.
His reasoning is compelling. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops should seriously consider Weigel’s proposal and, God willing, enact it.
Education can defeat poverty as our Catholic schools have so clearly demonstrated.
Angelo A. Giordano
Ditmas Park
Regarding IVF
Dear Editor: Some people may not be aware that during IVF (in vitro fertilization), a staggering number of surplus embryos (fertilized eggs) are placed in a trash can strictly dedicated to embryo disposal.
Clinics are fertilizing too many eggs, creating a large amount of surplus.
Only good-quality embryos are used. Unused embryos are not selected and discarded. In some practices in the U.S., it is possible to select the sex of the baby during IVF, and couples can choose only to implant the desired sex and discard the other embryos.
Since life begins at conception, each embryo is a human person. Only God is the master of life, and we should not play God.
Lutgarda A. Vasquez
Brooklyn Heights
Trump’s IVF Stance
Dear Editor: In regard to the article by Kate Scanlon (“Trump Pledges New IVF-Coverage Mandate Under His Administration,” Sept. 7), she mentions that Trump is in favor of IVF, which is against church teachings.
But she fails to mention that Kamala Harris is the biggest supporter of abortion who has ever run for President.
Not only does she not mention this, but there is no other article in this issue of The Tablet that mentions it either.
Pope Francis told reporters, “You must choose the lesser evil.” Shouldn’t we at least let people know “what” those two evils are?
Edward J. Pisano
Dyker Heights
Editor’s note: The OSV wire service article did say the following on Vice President and Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris, “[She] has made IVF a talking point in her campaign after a ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court found that frozen embryos qualify as children under the state law’s wrongful death law.”
Pope Francis’ Advice
Dear Editor: Pope Francis has told the world that he considers both of our presidential candidates to be in opposition to Church teaching.
Without naming names, the pope said that one candidate supported what the Church considers to be the murder of unborn infants, and that the other candidates violates the commandment to “Love thy neighbor as thyself.”
A party that supports abortion is beyond comment. It’s just completely wrong.
However, it’s just as wrong to preach fear and hatred for your neighbor.
Garrett Dempsey
Whitestone