Every Human Being Has Innate Dignity
Dear Editor: In his letter to the editor (“I Applaud and Support Pro-lifers’ Efforts,” Readers’ Forum, March 6), Stephen J. Trani writes, “realistically, life itself, a heartbeat and brain functioning are not enough,” and that the “tragedy of abortion is that human beings have no opportunity to give meaning to their lives.”
No, the tragedy of abortion is that the life of a unique human being is taken unjustly. Every human being has innate dignity and worth, which is not dependent on the person’s opportunity to flourish. The profoundly disabled person, the baby who dies shortly after birth, the innocent victim of abortion, all have lives of intrinsic worth by virtue of the fact that they are made in the likeness of a loving God.
It is true that many persons have lives cut short due to violence, poverty or illness, but their lives have no less value as a result. St. John Paul II wrote, “Human persons are willed by God; they are imprinted with God’s image. Their dignity does not come from the work they do, but from the persons they are.” This truth is ignored or forgotten by society at our peril, as history has often proven.
Patrick M. Collins
Windsor Terrace
We Should Never Forget The Pandemic Heroes
Dear Editor: We can’t believe it has been one year since we put a sign on our window thanking all the essential workers for having the courage to show up at work during the pandemic.
To watch people on TV coming out of their homes with thunderous applause to show their appreciation was awesome.
Although we are now at a point where we are receiving the vaccination that will help us achieve “herd immunity,” we should never forget these heroes that were on the front lines when it counted and are still doing their job to this day.
Just as we thank veterans for their service, we should never forget to always give a kind word of thanks to them.
God bless you always!
Thomas and Constance Dowd
Oakland Gardens
Harmony and Unity in This Time of COVID-19
Dear Editor: I was pleased to read the article, “Black History Month Mass Focuses on Resilience, Adversity, and Sacrifice” (March 6), because Father Franklin Ezeorah’s homily included praying for harmony and unity. Harmony and unity in this time of COVID-19 is not only needed in the country, but is needed in the Diocese of Brooklyn.
It is always good to reflect on the past, and recognize how far we have come in the areas which divide us, and where we feel we need to go in the future. However, recent events have demonstrated to African Americans and other immigrants in the Brooklyn diocese that we are not always welcome as we would like to be.
To be sure, families who worship in parishes with a large minority congregation benefit from the kindnesses extended to their ancestors and are blessed to be embraced for their faith. But for some minorities during this pandemic, especially those who attend parishes where their numbers make them invisible, adversity and sacrifice have entered their lives while the doors to their home parish have been closed.
Carmelita Blake
North Park Slope
These Women Are Truly Great in my Book
Dear Editor: March is Women’s History Month, and is a time to honor women of our past and our present who made a difference.
These women have made what America is today. Women in our country have achieved success in law, economics, science, nursing, teaching, the medical profession, athletics, and space exploration. These women have accomplished much due to their courage and dedication. They had a dream and would not let anyone deny them their dreams. But I think we should never forget all that they did and still do to make a better world for all of us.
There are others we should not forget also, and they are those who are average women who are wives, mothers and just ordinary women. But are they really ordinary? These women have much love for family and the community in which they live. They truly deserve much recognition for all that they do.
My wife Eva and myself have been married for over 33 years and she has shown much love for her daughter Susan and myself. She has also done what she can to help others in need. She even has helped our elderly neighbor next door and has shown to be a good friend to her when she was lonely.
Then there was my mother who was dedicated to our family, the church, and did a lot of charity work. My mother’s name was Teresa Bedell, and did volunteer work collecting funds in our neighborhood of Queens Village for the Cancer Society, Muscular Dystrophy Foundation, and Grace Lutheran Church, where she belonged to the Ladies Aid Society who helped those with cancer. She died at age 53 when I was 14 years old. I think she died so young because she cared so much for the many that were hurting.
There are many women like my wife and my mother who care for the many that are in great need of compassion, hope, and a desire to fulfill their dreams. These average women may not achieve greatness but they are truly great in my book.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
Bellerose