No One Should Be Afraid To Get the COVID-19 Vaccine
Dear Editor: My wife Eva and myself received our first COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, South Ozone Park on Friday, February 26.
My wife is 67 and I am 71 years old, and we had a hard time trying to get an appointment during this pandemic. But thanks to our senior group at Commonpoint Queens, in Little Neck, we were able to get an appointment.
When we showed up for our appointment we were greeted by National Guard members who were extremely helpful who checked our ID and our reservation number.
They then showed us where to go and to stand in line at six feet apart. The line went fast.
When it was our turn we were asked questions by a nice young woman who was helpful and kind and gave us an appointment card and directed us to the next station, where a nurse gave us our shots for the vaccine.
This nurse was also kind and considerate. She directed us to another area where we were told to sit for about 20 minutes to make sure we had no health issues from the vaccine.
As we were leaving to go home, I saw two National Guard soldiers and I said to them, “You guys are doing a great job keeping us safe.” One soldier said in reply, “Thank you for your kind words.”
As my wife and myself got in our car to go home I said, “This really went well.” My wife agreed.
Also in my opinion, based upon our experience, no one should be afraid to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
Bellerose
What Are We, as Catholics, Supposed to Do?
Dear Editor: I would like to compliment Robert Tillman and Cynthia Gonzalez on their prescient comments about today’s Catholics (“Mortal Sin of Catholics” and “What Do We Stand For?,” Readers’ Forum, Feb. 27).
There is confusion caused by the great reluctance on the part of too many bishops in the U.S. and around the world to take the politicians in their dioceses and countries to task for their refusal to live up to their responsibilities to teach and lead the faithful in accordance with the teachings of the church.
As Pope St. Paul VI said in a homily in June 1972, “from some fissure the smoke of Satan has entered the temple of God.” Thus, we have 11 Catholic senators who couldn’t bring themselves to vote to protect the lives of children who survived abortion. We have a Catholic president. And many are at a loss as to what we, as faithful Catholics are to do.
We have to be faithful to the truth that is contained within the Catechism and, through the magisterium, has provided the foundation and guidance for the Church for two millennia. Unfortunately, this means we have to weigh whatever comes from our ecclesial leaders against the “standards” of the Catechism and the magisterium rather than trust it just because they said it. And, when they are leading us astray, we need to call them on it.
Thomas Klocek
Chesapeake, Virginia
I Will Continue to Worship My God as a Catholic
Dear Editor: I totally agree with reader Cynthia Gonzalez’s question (“What Do We Stand For?,” Readers’ Forum, Feb. 27). Some church leaders seem to totally agree with left-leaning political propaganda.
Politicians who claim to be Catholic but have no problem supporting abortions at all stages, and the flagrant abuse of our borders receive no rebuke.
Many in my own family question remaining Catholic. My answer is, when I don’t agree with the leadership of my country, I don’t leave my country. My feelings about my religion are the same. I will continue to worship my God as a Catholic. But I have lost great respect for many Catholic leaders. Where is our Church heading?
Maureen McGroarty
Flatlands
The Equality Act and its Dangerous Consequences
Dear Editor: We recently heard that the House of Representatives was going to vote on the Equality Act.
The act updates the Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed to combat racism and now adds sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes
akin to race.
Reading the text of the bill, you realize this act would endanger and forfeit the rights of every citizen from every walk of life and is blatantly unconstitutional.
The act would jeopardize the hard-won rights under Title IX sports for women. It would give males the right to compete with females on an even playing field simply by proclaiming that they are of the female gender by choice, not by biology.
This would not only apply to the world of sports but also extend to shared facilities including restrooms and dressing rooms.
Further, the tentacles of this act are so far reaching that they extend to religious institutions and the medical field.
What is happening in government today is beyond belief and it is up to us to stand up and nip it in the bud to stop this madness.
Please, read the bill!
Thomas and Constance Dowd
Oakland Gardens