A Fitting Tribute to Wally Rooney
Dear Editor: I’d like to thank Jim Mancari and the staff at The Tablet for such a good story about my dad, who was Brooklyn-proud for life (“Brooklyn’s Own Wally Rooney Enjoyed Lifetime of Sports,” Sep. 5).
There were many Parade Grounds memories as well from “semi-pro” games back in the day that emphasized the great all-around proud Brooklyn atmosphere and lifestyle many enjoyed. “The greatest generation” it certainly was.
Niagara University included playing for a very good National Invitation Tournament-bound team in hoops made up mostly of NYC players; along with coaching that Niagara University undefeated team that featured future NBA player and championship coach Larry Costello.
He gave back to his community in Rockville Centre coaching baseball at all levels; lectured at Mass; was elected to the St. Agnes Cathedral parish council; and taught religious education at home with his wife Dolores (Nolen) and they
continued to donate their time, effort, and more to help charities and others as years went on.
His youngest sibling Helen Walls still lives in Brooklyn with many other extended family members.
Wally Rooney Jr.
Island Park
Father Dominick Cutrone, 65 Years of Priesthood
Dear Editor: Father Dominick Cutrone, Pastor Emeritus of Our Lady of Grace Parish celebrated his 65th Anniversary of Ordination on June 4, 2020, and also his 90th birthday on January 25, 2020.
He served as Pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish from 1983 to 2001. Fr. Cutrone is always smiling, always visiting the sick, caring, compassionate, counselor, down to earth, genuine, good golfer, good listener, gentleman, kind, loving, magnetic personality, prayerful, punctual, religious, spiritual, supportive, teacher, understanding, welcoming, and wise. He is still celebrating Masses, weddings, and baptisms at the parish. He is our “Energizer bunny.”
Mary Ann De Luca
Gravesend
Catholics Are Not ‘Obliged’ To Vote for Anyone
Dear Editor: It is irresponsible to print letters stating moral opinions contrary to the teachings of the Holy See and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Sept 5 letter “Catholic Voters Are Obliged to Vote Pro-Life” (Readers’ Forum, Sep. 5) did just that.
While serving as Prefect of the Congregation of the Faith under Pope John Paul II, the future Pope Benedict XVI wrote “When a Catholic does not share a candidate’s stand in favor of abortion and/or euthanasia, but votes for that candidate for other reasons, it is considered remote material cooperation, which can be permitted in the presence of
proportionate reasons.” Furthermore, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote in Faithful Citizenship, “We recognize that the responsibility to make choices in political life rests with each individual in light of a properly formed conscience.”
Our Catholic faith transcends political parties and includes clear positions on just wages, welcoming immigrants, access to health care, and care for our common home. And those who believe abortion to be pre-eminent among these should take note that under the previous Democratic administration, abortions in this country fell to their lowest level since Roe vs. Wade.
Communication from our clergy — including this newspaper — should help us form our consciences, not tell us we are required to vote for one party.
Vincent Gragnani
Staten Island
Editor’s note: The USCCB’s document “Faithful Citizenship” also states: “Yet if a candidate’s position on a single issue promotes an intrinsically evil act, such as legal abortion […] a voter may legitimately disqualify a candidate from receiving support.”
From Conception to Natural Death
Dear Editor: The Tablet had a story (“Invalid Baptisms Possible But Rare,” Sep. 5) and two editorial columns
devoted to explaining the Church’s rigid prohibition of any deviation at all from the prescribed wording when administering the sacraments.
Wish that we had such precision in our political discourse! It bothers me that our President is usually referred to as being “pro-life,” when-at best-he should be called “pro-birth.” The Church defines life as extending from conception to natural death, with no less an authority than our beloved St. Pope John Paul II expressing that concept of life. Being strapped to a hospital gurney while strangers pump poisons into your veins is not my concept of “natural death,” yet our “pro-life” President has yet to void any federal death sentence.
It has been said that Catholics “are obliged to vote pro-life,” and that is true: pro-life, not just pro-birth. A candidate for whom Catholics could vote would be one who not only opposes abortion. The candidate would have to oppose capital punishment as well. So, with pro-choice Biden and death penalty Trump, it seems that Catholics should all do a write in vote for whom?
Garrett Dempsey
Whitestone