The Catholic News Herald’s Nov. 6 article featuring the USCCB pastoral letter “Open Wide Our Hearts: Responding to the sin of racism” further enslaves people. As a former fighter pilot, I saw the enemy create false targets to hide their moves. Nowadays, racism is a false target and enslaves. As a freshman at Mississippi State University, I witnessed people’s response to Medgar Evers entering Ole Miss. That was racism, but our country has made vast improvements in reducing racism. Sure, there are a few bad apples, but dwelling on it spawns the notion of victimhood. That is not opening wide our hearts; rather, it engenders hate, anger, and entitlement to others’ property. A retreat master once told me, never compare yourself with others. Everyone could claim they are a victim of some harm. Victimhood erodes one’s love and resolve to better themselves.
The letter and your paper should be advocating ideas to free men – namely, the family, the domestic church. Our state and federal governments suppress people – particularly, the poor, regardless of race. President Lyndon Johnson’s war on poverty is an example. Welfare pushed fathers out of the family. The government took over the role of providing for a family, zapping the will and responsibility of the father. Children need their fathers. Families, communities and churches likewise have stepped back from their role as primary safety net, robbing caring people of opportunities for acts of charity.
Unfortunately, over the years our state and federal governments have fashioned school curricula to support socialist notions which abrade the family. They deny discussions about God, alter history, and cherry-pick science. We need to remember that parents are the first educators of their children. I suggest the Catholic News Herald champion community schools, school choice and vouchers.
Bill Fountain is a member of St. Mark Parish in Huntersville.