Memories of Father Edward J. Giorgio

Dear Editor: When I read the article about Father Edward J. Giorgio (“Veterans Work to Save Memory of WWII Chaplain,” Nov. 14), I was immediately brought back to my days as a teenager in Williamsburg.

My father was a long-time usher at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and, more importantly, a close friend of Father Giorgio. Thus, I was able to witness, first hand, their friendship. Father Giorgio exuded the finest examples of priestly decorum and brought those virtues to his parishioners.

Subsequently, when news of his demise due to the injuries suffered at the war’s expense reached my father’s ear, I commiserated with him completely. 

May Father Giorgio’s legacy live on!

John J. Scibelli
Forest Hills 

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The Most Troubling Thanksgiving Day

Dear Editor: This year’s Thanksgiving will be most troubling in America. Our nation is facing a COVID-19 pandemic, where over 250,000 people have died from this virus and more will die. There have been many shutdowns of schools, businesses, and sports for a while. Added to all this, millions of hard-working Americans are put out of work.

The question is, What do the American people have to be thankful for in a year that is ending with suffering and pain?

There will not be a Thanksgiving parade because a large gathering of people attending is not allowed. And yet, there is hope on the horizon with a vaccine that will save many lives in the spring. I believe it is where there are hope and prayers we can survive and be thankful.

Thanksgiving is not about what we don’t have but what we do have, and that is family and the need to help others in need.

Therefore, I ask all those who can to give to local churches, community organizations that help those in need, and also food pantries. The last part of the word Thanksgiving is giving. So please help our neighbors in need. Remember this: When things have been the worst for Americans we have found we have been at our best.

Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
Bellerose

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Words Needed for Those Of us who are Grieving

Dear Editor: I would like to acknowledge and thank Msgr. Ronald Marino, Theresa Landy, and all who participated in the All Soul’s evening Mass in St. Joseph Chapel and Columbarium on Nov. 2.

Monsignor’s homily was so very meaningful, his words much needed for those of us who are grieving. I’m both pleased and comforted that my husband and I chose the Columbarium for our resting place. It feels like, in sharing this place, we’re extended family.

Pamela DiScala
Coney Island

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Understanding the Church’s Teaching on Conscience

Dear Editor: One opportunity and challenge that President-elect Biden presents to the bishops is to help Catholics know and understand the Church’s teaching on conscience (“Working Group Formed to Deal With Conflicts Between Biden Policies, Church Teaching,” The Tablet website, Nov. 18).

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a well-formed conscience is upright and truthful. It formulates its judgments according to reason, in conformity with the true good willed by the wisdom of the Creator.

A second opportunity and challenge are for the bishops to begin to engage in dialogue with Catholics who question the Church’s teaching on birth control, the place of LBGTQ Catholics, and same-sex couples in the life of the Catholic Church.

Catherine Furlani
Suffern

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It’s Going to Take More Than a Working Group

Dear Editor: While I am pleased that the USCCB finally recognizes that Joe Biden’s pro-choice abortion stance, and other policies, cause “confusion with the faithful,” it’s going to take more than a working group and “hoping” that he will undergo conversion (“Working Group Formed to Deal With Conflicts Between Biden Policies, Church Teaching,” The Tablet website, Nov. 18).

It’s going to take direct confrontation with the man. The bishops need to instruct their parishes that, until these pro-death politicians who support intrinsic evils take positive steps to show their contrition (such as vetoing proposed laws that advance the sickness of abortion), they are not to receive communion.

I’m not calling for excommunication, but it seems that Biden being refused communion by a priest in South Carolina actually made some impression on him. If, as they claim, their Catholic faith is important to them, then being denied communion might be the spark that inspires conversion.

Furthermore, allowing them to receive communion denigrates, demeans, and sullies the Blessed Sacrament. At the very least, it should be done to protect the Eucharist.

Thomas Klocek
Chesapeake, Virginia