Dear Editor: During a recent commute to Manhattan, I tuned into WNYC, a listener-supported radio station broadcast on 93.9 FM. A story about an Eritrean priest, Father Moses, and his ministry helping migrants enter the European Union engaged my attention.
Author: settinger
‘Uncle Artie’ Candreva
Dear Editor: Rest in peace, Father Arthur Candreva, who served the Brooklyn Diocese as a layman, deacon and priest. A wonderful and caring man, he had a profound influence on many as a teacher and model for living the Catholic faith. As the CCD director at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, South Ozone Park, in the ’70s and ’80s, “Uncle Artie” found himself running the parish Youth Council and taking a lot of young people, including me, under his wing.
Politics Becoming a Circus
Dear Editor: I was appalled to see that the reaction of the Senate Majority Leader to the recent passing of Chief Justice Scalia was to issue a warning to the president not to bother nominating a candidate, as it would be ignored. What a combination of bad taste and arrogance! Watching the GOP presidential debates […]
The Irish Know Genocide
Dear Editor: In response to George Weigel’s article (Feb. 20) “Isis, Genocide…” If one should ever go across the sea to Ireland and stand on the shore of Galway Bay, on a clear day one can see more than the sun going down. In the distance are the Aran Islands where the British imprisoned hundreds of priests prior to execution or transportation with thousands of other Catholics, to Australia or the brutal sugar cane plantations of Barbados.
The Gentleman Politician
In terms of political debate, we, as a nation, have reached our nadir. When politicians can insult each other, resorting to taunts about the body parts of others, as if they were in middle school, we have reached a new low.
The Legacy of Benedict
Three years ago, on Feb. 28, Pope Benedict XVI left via helicopter from the Vatican to go to Castel Gandolfo. He has announced his resignation from the papacy a few weeks earlier. By the time he would return back to the Vatican, a new pope, Pope Francis, would have been elected and the world had a seismic shift. What can we consider the legacy of the eight-year pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI? It is far, far too early to tell, but perhaps we can give just three speculations:
Liberals v. Conservatives
Dear Editor: I disagree with reader Anthony Tenga’s letter (“Another Fan of Liberals,” Feb. 13) and other recent letters in support of political liberals. Specifically, the assertion that support for enforcing immigration laws, as done in every other country in the world, is somehow not within Catholic teaching is not correct.
Humility and Lent
One of the great Roman traditions is the Station Church Masses each day during Lent. Coming out of the traditional Mass calendar, those of the North American College, the priests of the Casa Santa Maria and the priest faculty and seminarians on the Gianicolo go each day to a different Roman church as a pilgrimage […]
Voice of Reason
The recently deceased Justice Antonin Scalia will be a much missed champion of human life and right reason on the bench of the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986, time and time again, Scalia proved to be a voice of reason, a voice calling upon our […]
New York’s Shameful Legacy
Dear Editor: Kudos to John Hourig for his eloquent and passionate comments (Jan. 23) titled “Life is Cheap.” Truly, a sad state of affairs, but a well-articulated home run. On April 9, 1970, the N.Y.S. Assembly took up the debate and roll call on the Abortion Bill, which ended in a deadlock (74-74) – two votes short of the 76 needed for a majority. Before the vote was closed, Assemblyman George Michaels of Cayuga County rose and switched his vote from Nay to Aye. The vote now stood at (75-73) The house Speaker Perry Duryea voted Aye making it (76-74). Bill passed. A day of infamy.