Racism, a Venom in the Hearts of Human Beings

Dear Editor: You have to be commended for spotlighting the killing of Ahmaud Arbery by a father and son in Georgia (“The Killing of Ahmaud Arbery,” May 23).

I myself could have suffered a similar fate as a black man in the early 1990s, as I walked alongside the main road in Lloyd Harbor as a priest in civilian clothes, enjoying the sights of the picturesque village on Long Island.

My tranquil walk suddenly came to an end when a white pickup truck drove in front of me, blocking my path, and three well-built, muscular white men in the vehicle screamed very aggressively at me and asked what I was doing in that neighborhood. I feared for my life as I saw how they seethed with hatred at me. I told them that I was heading back to the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception where I was attending a summer session.

They looked me over suspiciously and did not want to believe what I told them, but fortunately, one of the men thought to himself that it wasn’t worth beating me into a pulp and got the others to leave me, rather shook up but thank God, alive!

I was left furious and in a rage that my human dignity was assaulted by white men who felt that I should not have been where I was, because of the color of my skin. It is true that we have come a long way in combating racism but the venom will not be expunged from the hearts of human beings. We as followers of Christ have to truly love all people as our brothers and sisters, by defending their rights in all situations of human life.

You have brought the killing of Arbery (regardless of its final legal outcome) to the forefront, as a national crisis and as important as all the other human issues which we must confront because of who we are.

Msgr. Paul W. Jervis 

Prospect Lefferts Gardens

Editor’s note: Msgr. Jervis is the pastor of St. Francis of Assisi – St. Blaise Parish.

---

Vaccines Developed From Aborted Fetuses

Dear Editor: Bravo to Dr. Paul Carpentier, the obstetrician in West Islip who pointed out that for at least 15 years researchers have been developing vaccines from aborted fetuses, vaccines also known as fetal cell lines (“Vaccine Research Raises Potential Ethical Question for Pro-Lifers,” May 16).

Many pro-life advocates have known about the use of fetal cell lines to manufacture vaccines. I urge readers to refer to an informative chart put together by Children of God for Life that indicates vaccines developed from aborted fetuses and vaccines that have ethical alternatives.

While it is true that vaccines for shingles, rheumatoid arthritis, measles, and mumps are made from fetal cell lines, there are ethical versions for these vaccines as well. I have distributed the chart to members of my family. It also includes a potential ethical version of a COVID-19 vaccine that is insect-based.

I am startled that Archbishop Naumann did not raise an alarm years earlier when the use of aborted fetuses was first used in vaccines. I agree with Dr. Carpentier — the Vatican should have registered protests when the practice first started.

Irene Gerhards 

Middle Village

---

One of Your Biggest Mistakes as an Editor

Dear Editor: It had taken me a very long time to even address Deacon Larry and Eileen Coyle’s letter printed in The Tablet on Feb. 15 (“Trump Is No Champion of the Right to Life”). The reason it has taken me so long is because I find it unbelievable that it was written, submitted to a so-called pro-life newspaper, and printed in The Tablet.

No matter how anybody feels about President Trump, the fact that he is the only sitting president of the United States to address the March for Life cannot be taken away from him.

Who cares that President Trump has been married three times? The fact that they accused President Trump of being a serial adulterer and sex abuser is definite grounds for a huge lawsuit.

I know you will not print this letter because it seems you only acknowledge the same people over and over again. But one of your biggest mistakes as an editor was to publish what Larry and Eileen Coyle submitted to you.

Eleanor M. Kehoe 

Midwood

---

Fine Theoretical Concept But Unrealistic

Dear Editor: “The poor will be with you always,” said Christ. The concept of basic income for all is a fine theoretical concept but unrealistic (“In Support of Universal Basic Income,” Readers’ Forum, May 9). When millions of human lives are taken before they have begun to exercise their rights, and when killing is approved by the highest court in the land, therein lies the crux of the matter.

When the salary of CEOs increases from 20 times the average salary to 278 times, greed and corruption are nearby. When companies no longer have employees but rather part-time workers who need food stamps to survive, that is serious.

The taxpayer pays indirectly for all this while a few benefit. The denial of work and the elimination of jobs in the U.S. has brought on unemployment, drug addiction, and suicide. Respect and dignity must be restored.

Thomas C. Cullinane

Bayside