Where is Your ‘Humanity’ for Americans?
Dear Editor: Hiding behind the label of “humanitarian” does not work. Allowing illegal aliens to come unchecked into our country is against the laws of our sovereign nation. No one is against legal immigration.
At a time when America is dealing with COVID, unemployment, and the loss of small businesses due to shutdowns, where is your “humanity” for American citizens?
Our own citizens are standing on food lines and receiving stimulus checks, for which my grandchildren will end up paying. Are we expected to allow people with no health screening, no means of support, and no background checks to be transported all over our nation? Where is your compassion for Americans who are barely getting by?
Stop the guilt trip, no nation ever has done so much for people all over the world. We are not wrong for putting our citizens first.
Maureen O’Rourke McGroarty
Brooklyn
Keep Columbus Day for All Americans
Dear Editor: The renaming of Columbus Day by the New York City Department of Education (“City Schools Cancel Columbus,” May 3) is not only an insult to Italian Americans but an insult to all Americans. Particularly those of European heritage, who cherish the role of Christopher Columbus in uniting the old and new worlds through the introduction of Christianity and western civilization to the Americas.
Columbus was an explorer and not a conqueror. Those who now vilify him do so only because they revile — which for most of us — is our religion and culture. Columbus had nothing to do with the atrocities that befell the indigenous people at the hands of those who followed him.
While the indigenous people may be entitled to their own holiday, it should not be at the cost of Columbus Day, which is venerated and cherished by most Americans. It is time to stand up for the truth and reject revisionist history.
George Edward Henkel
Queens Village
Passionists Receive Funds From Generations of Faith
Dear Editor: I was delighted to read that the Passionist Community of Jamaica Estates has received funding in the amount of $200,000 from our Generations of Faith Campaign (“Generations of Faith Campaign Helps Passionists Care for Elderly Priests,” May 15). The Passionists have been in our diocese for many years and have been in charge of a parish, school, monastery, and retreat house.
Several of the priests and brothers have now become elderly and in need of additional home care. After serving God’s people for many years, they certainly are deserving of this very generous gift.
On behalf of the many individuals, including myself, whose lives have been touched by these dedicated men, I would like to offer my thanks to Bishop DiMarzio for recognizing both their need and the contributions they have made to our diocese and beyond.
Barbara Elizabeth Coletti
Whitestone
Asian Americans as American as Anyone
Dear Editor: I was pleased to see The Tablet addressing the steep rise of anti-Asian attacks in New York City (“Clergy, Leaders on Spike in Anti-Asian Violence,” May 15).
I agree with Dr. DiGiuseppe’s assessment that the reason for this increase probably stems from feelings of resentment rather than mental illness. I found it curious, however, that the article made absolutely no mention of former President Donald Trump’s role in the increase of anti-Asian violence with his repeated references to COVID-19 as being the “China” flu or his even more disparaging term of “Kung-flu.” The former president certainly fanned the fires of the current resentment which has evolved into violence and he bears significant responsibility for the added burden of fear that the Asian-American community has had to endure since the beginning of the pandemic.
Asian American civil rights groups are unanimously in agreement on this point. I am reminded of that rhetoric each time I hear of yet another unprovoked attack on an innocent Asian or worry about the safety of my Asian-American friends and relatives, most especially my 93-year-old Chinese-American mother-in-law.
Bishop DiMarzio is right that this is a moral issue that should be preached about at church. My pastor at Sacred Hearts-St. Stephen Church, Msgr. Guy Massie, has certainly done so. And our children must be educated on this particular issue of racism as well.
I am praying that our current church and civic leaders will continue to speak out against this violence and instill in all citizens the message that Asian Americans are as American as anyone else, that they are not responsible for this pandemic, and that, yes, they belong here.
Laura LoPorto Eng
Brooklyn
The Law is the Law
Dear Editor: I totally disagree with Ken Webb’s letter (Readers’ Forum, May 15) where he takes issue with San Francisco Archbishop Cordileone’s declaration that pro-choice Catholics should not be allowed to receive the sacrament of holy Communion.
As members of the Catholic Church, and as per his statement, should we also be able to pick and choose which of the five Commandments of the Church and of God’s Ten Commandments we least desire? Absolutely not. The only way to receive holy Communion is to be contrite in confession. The law Is the law.
Peter Koniuch
Yorktown Heights