Editor replies: While it is true that the Mission criticises some Church leaders, we do not criticise all of them, and we do not criticise the teachings of the Church. As the history of the Church makes abundantly clear, not all Church leaders uphold the teachings of the Church; Nestorius, the archbishop of Constantinople, for instance, denied that Mary is the Mother of God, and Arius, a deacon of Alexandria, taught that the Son of God is not equal to the Father. And there are many more examples of heretical and schismatic prelates and clergy. When criticising a member of the clergy, the Mission cites Church authority, either popes or councils. This in no way is opposing Church teaching but, rather, affirming it.

PREACH TO THE CHOIR

I was already opposed to Proposition 73. You and the so-called "Life" On The Ballot group and their incessant phone calls have now made me an activist in opposition.

I suggest that you people check your phone list. As a liberal Democrat, ACLU member, etc., I am probably in opposition to most of what you represent. Save your money. Go preach to your own choir. Tell your little right-wing friends to get my number off your list.

Gerard F. Roney,
San Jose

THE BISHOPS HAVE FAILED

I cannot describe the level of disappointment I felt when Proposition 73 was defeated. Yet, weeks before the election, I believed that it was in serious trouble. I visited thirty Protestant churches to provide information and to exhort the pastors to speak to their congregations. Of these pastors, 75 percent knew nothing about 73. I e-mailed nine High Desert Catholic churches, offered to speak briefly after each Mass and to provide bulletin inserts. The only reply was from Deacon Victor Marchiano at Holy Family Church in Hesperia, and he outright refused. Not one priest replied.

As I see it, this defeat is an indictment on the Catholic moral leadership in California. They will have to take a serious look at their complicity in this failure and judge if they are culpable in the blood of the innocents. There are enough Catholics in the San Bernardino diocese alone to ensure passage, but little was done. Did Bishop Gerald Barnes issue a statement in support of 73 to be read at each Mass? The answer is NO. I seriously doubt that any other bishop did either. Based on statistics from other states which have passed similar initiatives, Proposition 73 would have saved the lives of a minimum of 11,300 babies during the first year alone. Knowing that, the moral leadership of the Church should have devoted every energy to ensure its passage. Other than issuing a pro-73 statement, the majority of bishops did little more. I visited Maria Kennedy when she was spending every waking moment preparing and sending packets of information to every Catholic church in California so no priest could use the excuse that he didn't know. Oh, I know of a few fine priests who recommended a YES vote, but I believe the majority did little or nothing to help. One local priest actually told his flock that if they "did not believe that children should have to tell their parents about their pregnancy, that they should vote NO."

Fellow Knights of Columbus and I discussed this defeat at our recent monthly meeting. One of the men was highly critical of the organizers of the initiative and complained about the lack of pro-73 television advertisement. Hindsight is always 100 percent. I countered that there simply was a lack of funds, that every person involved worked diligently and did everything they could to support the vote. The problem was that there just wasn't enough volunteers.

As I see it, the only fault I could find with the organizers was their dependence on the Catholic moral authority in California. They naively relied on the clergy and the leadership of the Knights of Columbus to exhort the faithful to get out and vote in support Proposition 73. To my knowledge, the leadership of the Knights of Columbus in California did absolutely nothing. No statement in support of 73 ever reached the ears or hands of the membership. I have been a member of the Knights since 1991 and have been consistently disappointed in the California state leadership. They talk a good talk, but rarely walk the walk. Shame on them!

The bishops of California failed in the embryonic stem cell issue and failed on this issue as well. Shame on them!

"The voice of your brother's blood cries to me from the earth" (Genesis 4:10). The day will come when each of us will stand before God to answer for our complicity in abortion. Saint Catherine of Siena, when given a vision of hell, stated, "the walls of hell are lined with the skulls of bishops." Reparation before God is in order.

Victor R. Claveau
received via e-mail

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