Kudos to Father Peter Ascik for telling it like it is in his Jan. 29 commentary “An example of Catholic integrity in public life.” One cannot profess they are a practicing Catholic and then not only sanction, but promote, abortion. The political divide over abortion is becoming a divide in our Church. Kudos also to Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, the current president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, who issued a statement condemning President Joe Biden’s stance on abortion.
Secular columnist Cal Thomas recently questioned Biden’s faithfulness to Church teaching in his Jan. 31 commentary “Biden: A liberal wolf in moderate sheep’s clothing,” writing: “Biden has reverted to an old and meaningless excuse when he says he doesn’t want to ‘impose’ his faith on others. The question then becomes why have a faith at all, if he won’t apply what his church teaches as truth? How is Biden different from a person who is about to witness a murder but doesn’t try to stop it, or call the police, because he doesn’t want to impose his moral views about the value of life on a man about to commit an illegal and immoral act?”
A second article in the Jan. 29 Catholic News Herald was about nine Catholics nominated to cabinet-level jobs in the Biden Administration. If they are all “Catholics” like Biden, I am not impressed. In fact, I am downright concerned about several of the appointees, whose track records speak volumes about their level of adherence to Catholic values and teachings.
Rosemary Hagerott lives in Hendersonville.
As a Church we have been praying for months for deliverance from the medical, social and economic ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, through the wisdom and grace of God acting through scientists, a vaccine is becoming available to us. While this should be joyous news, some are expressing concerns and reservations about receiving it. Where does the Church stand on the COVID-19 vaccines? Recent statements from Rome and the U.S. clearly show approval, support and encouragement for vaccination.
If you want good company, Pope Francis says he will get a vaccination. In a Jan. 10 interview with Italian television, the pope said he has already scheduled his vaccination. He called opposition to the vaccine “suicidal denial” and he urged vaccination for all. “It is the moral choice because it is about your life but also the lives of others.” Earlier, in his Christmas message, Pope Francis urged “vaccines for all, especially for the most vulnerable and needy of all regions of the planet.” A December statement from the Vatican’s doctrinal office, approved by the pope, also noted “it is morally acceptable to receive COVID-19 vaccines.”
U.S. bishops are also supporting vaccination against COVID-19. In a Dec. 14th statement, the chairmen of the bishop’s doctrine and pro-life committees said that not only was it morally acceptable to receive the vaccine, “being vaccinated safely against COVID-19 should be considered an act of love of our neighbor and part of our moral responsibility for the common good.”
Our Church leaders support and urge vaccination “as an act of charity toward the other members of our community.” Let us follow their messages and their lead as an act of Christian charity – for ourselves, our families, our country and the world.
John P. Langlois, MD, is a member of St. Eugene Parish in Asheville.