Congratulations
Dear Editor: I would like to congratulate Father Robert Lauder and Msgr. John Keppler on their 65th anniversary (“Celebrating Jubilees in the Priesthood,” May 27). Two wonderful priests.
I know them personally from working at the Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston.
Father Lauder, I hope you’re still eating your waffles and brown sugar oatmeal.
Theresa Polese
Bayside
Thank You, Sister Marie Germaine
Dear Editor: I was lucky to be taught by Sister Marie Germaine, OP (“St. Pancras Alums Celebrate Beloved Teacher at Reunion,” June 21) in the 1A class at St. Pancras School in the spring of 1951.
John Herman Ihle
Muscatine, Iowa
Grateful for The Tablet’s Staff and Mission
Dear Editor: Thank you, Katie Vasquez, Jim Mancari, and The Tablet team, for the hard work you do every week to share noteworthy and well-written stories with us, your readers.
I am grateful to have a story about my children’s book company, Read Together Books, featured in Currents News and the sports section (“Author Celebrates Bond Between Dads, Children Through Sports,” June 14).
I look forward to doing more author visits at our diocese’s elementary schools this upcoming school year to read “I Love Going to the Bronx Zoo” to the students.
In addition, I am especially thankful for The Tablet’s strong stance on the protection of life from conception until natural death.
Many blessings to you all, and keep up the good work.
Michael Shoule
Whitestone
Thank You
Dear Editor: I want to thank God, the Blessed Mother, and St. Joseph for our new priests (“Prayers, Tears as 7 Priests Are Ordained In the Diocese,” Page 1).
I really enjoyed reading about Deacon Benoit Chavanne, now Father Chavanne, in the The Tablet “Deacon From France Seeks ‘Ministry of Presence’ as Priest in Brooklyn,” June 21).
God, please continue to bless them all.
Wanda Lucci
Gravesend
At What Cost?
Dear Editor: Last year, Cecily Strong, one of the cast members of “Saturday Night Live,” said on the show that she had an abortion when she was 23 years old.
Her reason, she said, is she feared a child would hinder her career. She used her success as validation of her choice.
But at what cost? I was appalled that she used abortion as a form of birth control — an egregious sin.
In the same vein, the “Big Beautiful Bill” (“Catholic Leaders Express Concerns Over ‘Big Beautiful Bill,” Page 10) will cut Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and SNAP benefits that cover health care for the poor, aged, and disabled. The reason is that they fear that providing those services will hinder the future prosperity of the U.S.
If we remove health care from the poor, aged, and disabled, we are leaving them to endure the slow, cruel, and evil ravages of cancer, diabetes, emphysema, kidney disease, malnutrition, etc.
Why are Republicans not calling this murder?
I don’t know Strong’s emotional and financial situation when she was 23. But I am absolutely sure she had other options. I am also sure the United States government has other options than the slow torture of the poor, aged, and disabled.
Now that the bill has been signed, I have no doubt that in 10 years the Republicans will celebrate the elimination of the deficit and use it as validation that they made the right choice.
But at what cost?
This is no time to be sanguine.
Stephen Trani
Marine Park