Famil y Lif e
Voucher initiative has pros, cons I am try ing to figure out how to vote on Prop. 38, the school voucher initiative that will be on the upcoming ballot. The Catholic bishops of California have chosen not to support it nor reject it , and they have their reasons. But this is a prudenti al matter, not a moral one, and they have encouraged us Catholic voters to carefu lly consider the matter and enter the debate. Vouchers are very enticing to my husband and me. We fit into that shrinking category of families comprised of a father-breadwinner, a mofher-homemaker and several dependent children. We are not rich by any means, and for moral, social and academic reasons, we are doing what it takes to provide our children with a Catholic education. At the same time, though, we pay the taxes that finance the public school system. My non-Catholic brother, who has school-age children of his own, sees the p icture plainly. "I think you are making a big mistake by not pu tting your children in public schools," he said. "After all, you 're paying for them."
Letters... ¦ Continued f rom page 12 instrument of bridging the larger Catholic community in the CYO leagues and City at large. Paulist Father Donal Forrester, with his press connection , aided the bridging. (Father Forrester is in his 90s and living at the Paulist mother church in New York City). Finally, the canonization of the 120 China Martyrs enrich the Roman Church 's patrimony of the communion of saints and faithful witness to the Gospel of life. Raymond A. Lew San Francisco
Encouraging exp erience
The generosity of the Catholic Community to the special collection for retired religious women and men in the United States has been a most encouraging and supportive experience for us! Our Sisters, not only the frail and elderly who benefit directly from this collection, but also the many Sisters currently active in ministry, and those being formed to take our places in active ministry, also wish to thank you for the generous contribution of $99,402.57 which we recently received as a result of last December 's national collection. Sister Rose Marie Hennessy, O.P. Prioress General, Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose
Retired relig ious aided
The following letter was forwarded f rom the Office of the Archbishop to be shared with readers: Thank you for your archdiocesan check for $35,913.73 which has been deposited in the Retirement Fund for Religious account . This brings your total diocesan contributions for all of the years of the collection to $2,554,397. The money has been recorded as part of Appeal XIII for 2000. Because of the generosity of the Catholic community of your archdiocese, retired religious who have given so many years of service will be assisted in receiving the care they need. These funds, along with all the other contributions received will be used to provide retirement grants to needy religious institutes of women and men in June 2001. Along with the creative self-help efforts of religious to address their retirement funding needs, these donations have helped the members of these institutes not only to care for their elderly and infirm members but also to continue their active service for the Church. Your support and the support of your Retirement Fund for Religious coordinator,
Paying twice for education strikes us as unjust. If the state has a compelling interest in education and is thereby willing to underwrite it, then public monies should be dispensed in a way that benefits all children , regardless of where they attend school. But our complaint seems like small potatoes compared with that of families who cannot afford private education. Unless they are helped b y some kind of scholarship, their children are often trapped in inferior , and sometimes even dangerous , public institutions. Vouchers would help these children even more than they would help ours. Though I am convinced that vouchers would help the poor, as well as offer deserved financial relief to families such as my own, I am uneasy about them. Public vouchers are state subsidies; and where there is state money, there are state controls. I do not object to accountability. But given current conflicts between civil authorities and the Catholic Church over certain moral
pastors , parish priests and deacons are essential to the Fund's success and we are grateful for all you do. You can be assured that the 52,000 retired religious will remember you in their prayers . May God bless you abundantl y. Sister Andree Fries, CPPS Executive director Retirement Fund for Reli gious Washington, D.C. Ed. note: The Archdiocese 's 1999 collection for the Retirement Fund for Relig ious totaled $211 , 729. The above noted $35,913.75 was the final installment. The annual collection will be taken again on Dec. 10. The collection for the local Priests ' Retirement Fund was Sept. 24.
Catholic, g ay brother's respo nse
In response to Sharon Abercrombie's Sept. 15 article on Landings, and more importantly, to the editor 's e-mail response to my concerns, I would like to address the hurtful and judgmental use of the term "AIDS-afflicted" in describing my brother Dennis' illness and the editor 's tone to my anger and disbelief. Dennis ' journey with AIDS was proudly witnessed by my parents, six siblings and a large Irish extended family (including other relatives battling AIDS) — most practicing Catholics and all shamed by use of the word "afflicted" to describe Dennis ' illness. "Afflicted" is easy to be construed as either judgment or fault. I am amazed it missed both the writer 's and editor 's notice. The editor 's response reinforced the sad reality there will always be some who want to make the gay community a target. Someday we will learn how to approach people without labels that jud ge. I recognize the writer's choice of words was wrong and unintentional . But the editor 's defense of it is inexplicable. Should we refer to my mother 's anguishing battle with emphysema as "emphysema-afflicted"? I am a practicing Catholic, an active parishioner, and a gay man. My journey back to the Church was due to my gay brother 's ability to look beyond the institutionalized homophobia and remain focused on the wonder of the Eucharist , the sacrifice of the Mass, and the liturgy. The Landing 's program allowed me, as a returning Catholic, to share my faith journey, a journey attributed to Dennis and his incredible goodness, love and acceptance. I was saddened to learn the editor decided my gay lifestyle was not relevant to the Landing 's article. My family and I are deeply disappointed he chose to
matters ,. I wonder about the kinds of regulations that could be imposed upon voucher-accepting Catholic schools. History seems to illustrate that the Church is freer to be herself when she is clear of government entang lements. Perhaps I would be more comfortable with an education tax credit or an increase in the tax deduction for dependent children , which has failed to keep pace with the real cost of raising them.
Vivian W. Dudro
Vivian Dudro is the mother of four (ages fou r to 12) and a member of St. Maiy 's Cathedral Parish.
remove my lifesty le from the Sharon 's reference to my return to the Church. Grace guided Dennis ' life , and I feel Dan Morris-Young's smug e-mail response to my call to retract the word "afflicted" is worthy of a response (beyond printing this letter) to Catholic San Francisco community. Kevin Sullivan San Francisco
'Forgotten group'
In regard to Sister Christine Wilcox's Sept. 29 Letters' response to the need for a singles ministry, she, like the Catholic Church in general, seems oblivious to the needs of singles in the 45-plus age bracket. We are the forgotten parishioners. For those age 30 and under, it 's quite easy to make connections because there are so many single persons in that age bracket in every activity in which they participate. A monthl y meeting at St. Mary 's Cathedral for ALL singles would finally be something that is inclusive. Name withheld by request San Francisco
No to one-issue \ote
Frank Hegarty ("Letters," Sept. 22) has his point to vote GOP. But, what about the Supreme Court appointments? More like Thomas and Scalia and a Bork? What will the NRA's agenda be — for they will believe they won the presidency with the millions they spent? I cannot have one issue control my vote. I'll go democratic and be happy. Dominic A. Intravia San Francisco
Save saf ety net
Let 's all save some children this election year. By voting "pro-life"? No! Because the same party that proclaims to be "pro-life " is tearing apart the safety net that provides a real hope for the embarrassed young woman who finds herself with child. Under the Republican theocracy, she will fear the brand of ostracism, the seizure of her newborn as she strugg les to panhandle on the streets. Faced with such a reality, will not abortion - even self administered enter her thoughts? Or, under the plan created by President Johnson, she can walk into a welfare office and be treated as a mother of a human being, awarded free medical care, food stamps and a cash grant. She will be respected as an adult... and given shelter. Will not these honors drive the cruel thoughts of abortion from her heart? You can behave like the crazed, ax-
wielding priest who smashed up a clinic — and accomplish less than nothing. Or, you can vote to provide the safety net so that another young woman will choose life. Open your heart to her. Neil B. Hammari Sausalito
Event not shared
Peninsulans have been disappointed by the omission of our only important Catholic communication arm about the presence of the statute of Our Lady of Fatima at St. Matthew 's in San Mateo. The announcement of the pilgrimage appeared , after the fact, in the San Mateo County Times - pictures and all. Unfortunatel y, it also reported that about 60 people were present until the school children joined us. If it had had any publicity hundreds of people - Catholic and others would have availed themselves of the "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity to view this rare and much-revered replica of Our Lady as she appeared to the children of Portugal in 1917. Why have a Catholic paper at all? It 's shameful! Especially since we have been so criticized recentl y in all other media, and since we are supposedly pursuing "outreach" to regain credibility and respect.Our own parish bulletin had no announcement either. Were the Churches notified? Bad job. Kay Amstrup Burlingame
B.C. vs. B.C.E.
I was disappointed to read in Father David Pettingill' s Sept. 22 column his reference to 50 "B.C.E." as the approximate date of the writing of the Old Testament's Book of Wisdom. I was under the impression that "B.C.E." was the substitute for "B.C." (Before Christ), that was devised to avoid offending non-Christian faiths. Since this is a Christian publication , I would think this nicety would be unnecessary. Interestingly, on a recent tour of China, 1 noticed the museum at the University of Beijing commonly uses "B.C." in its archeological exhibition. Kathleen Farrell San Francisco Ed. note: "B.C.E' .' stands for "Before Christian Era!' Regular news columns use the "B.C.' form. Columnists and commentator 's are provid ed leeway on "style " issues in some areas if the variation is germane to their topic. Father Pettingili has said he feel s the "B.C.E. " useage is more inclusive and "enhances a Catholic publication intended not only for Bay Area Catholics but f or evangelization of any who might read it.