COURIER-JOURNAL Wednesday, April 4,1984 21 Editorial

ERA when it was considered in the Wisconsin State state group has already lined up legislative support to The ERA Assembly of which he was a member at the time. But react quickly to any ERA proposal which may things have changed; pro-abortion groups, such as strengthen the cause of abortion. When and if an Equal Rights Amendment is Planned Parenthood, are using the ERA in states Congressman Sensenbrenner in a letter to the introduced to the state legislature, the State Catholic where it has become law to promote abortion. The Courier-Journal published March 14, added the Committee will recommend a Sensenbrenner type March 9 decision in Pennsylvania which linked the possibility that the~Hyde Amendment which places a amendment which will provide that the proposal does ERA and abortion has left no doubt that abortionists federal prohibition on taxpayer funds being used for will use, or abuse, the ERA. not guarantee abortion on demand or its funding. abortion "would probably fall in a challenge under State vpters have already defeated the Equal The Rochester Area Right to Life Committee feels the ERA if the standard of review for sex classifica­ Rights Amendment, but Gov. Mario Cuomo seems that if the ERA if passed in New York, it "would tion was the same as the current standard for race classification." firm about getting it on the ballot again. virtually make it impossible to change any existing jThe very fact that people, including the governor, anti-life abortion legislation or prevent passage of As Archbishop O'Connor of New York City are opposed to an amendment to ERA leaves the future anti-life legislation in the state." recently stated, it is difficult to understand the uneasy feeling that the amendment itself will be used position of such politicians as Gov. Cuomo who say Not too long ago, such an idea seemed implausible to further solidify and perhaps even fund abortion. If they are opposed to abortion but will not translate to many. Now it must be taken seriously. not, why is there so much opposition to. the. that into legislation. Question: How can the gover­ Sensenbrenner position? The U.S. Catholic Conference will support the nor, or anyone else, champion any group's rights as a Many have felt in the past that the ERA and ERA only if the abortion exclusion is added. The matter of constitutionality and yet ignore the rights abortion are not linked; this newspaper among them. State Catholic Conference is ready to take the same of unborn human beings, including that most basic In fact, Rep. Sensenbrenner himself supported the action if the ERA reaches the legislature. Indeed, the one - the right to live? and Opinions I believe if the Roman labeling anyone a sinner he Sacred Congregation for the Pope's Action Catholic Church is going to fails to instruct as to what is Sacraments and Divine continue this way, it will lose sinful matter. Of course we Worship (approved by the Criticized many of its members who are can't judge the condition of a pope on 4-17-80 and con­ firmed with his own EDITOR: faithful to God. I spend a lot person's soul as the result of of time defending the Church authority and ordered It is with great displeasure the commission of any act, but I cannot in heart and published and observed by all that I have to write to you but it is inexcusable not to tell conscience defend this ac­ concerned) and. the letter agaii. However, I feel that an inquiring Catholic' that tion. masturbation, oral sex, and written by the now archbish­ Pope John Paul II and op of New York, John J. yourself are asking Catholics Robert S. Lambino pre-marital sex are morally 475 Black Walnut Drive wrong objectively. The mat­ O'Connor, to his priests both worldwide and dioce- when he was bishop of sanwide to take steps Rochester, N.Y. 14626 ter involved is sufficiently serious, so that if a Catholic Scran ton, I would like tp backwards in asking them to share some of the contents. consecrate themselves to knew this, knew the moral Mary. Questions consequences, and com­ In Inaestimabile Donum, it mitted the act with full con­ In] the Book of Acts of the states "that the faithful, Unanswered sent of the will, he or she whether religious or lay, who apostles 4:12 "that there is would indeed be committing are authorized as salvation in no other name EDITOR: a serious (mortal) sin. extraordinary ministers of under heaven given among I have just read two letters Why doesn't Father the Eucharist can distribute menj whereby we can be from Catholics seeking help communion only when there saved." In Colossians 3:17 Hohman know that on sexual morality; one to masturbation is morally is no priest, deacon or "and whatsoever you do, do Dear Abby and another to acoloyte, when the priest is all in the name of the Lord wrong? His Church tells him Father Louis J. Hohman. it is a "grave disorder." impeded by illness or Jesus, giving thanks to God Both letters received un­ advanced age, or when the the father." What kind of disorder? Phys­ satisfactory answers. Abby ical? Psychological? Well, number of faithful going to While I believe in the Im- was wrong, and Father Communion is so large as to maciilate Conception and let's see. In what area does Hohman didn't answer the the Catholic Church have make the celebraton of Mass that jail generations shall call questions. excessively long." Mary blessed and that she authority to teach? T/V\ AFRAIP WE CANT ALLOY ^OU TO PRAV The letter to Abby was Why, morality of course. was • the ark of the new from a married woman with Also in Inaestimabile OUT HERE WHILE CLA5SE5 ARE <50ING ON.' convenant, Jesus and Jesus Isn't it clear that the "grave Donum, it is stated "with three children who had an disorders" must be immoral. alone through the mercy of affair, got pregnant and had regard to the manner of Why then does he allude to going to Communion, the ageable circumstrances. It is Reagan's State of the Union God \ the Father is the new an abortion. She wanted to normally not authorized for address. Perhaps these covenant. Jesus alone went to other "experts" who pro­ faithful can receive it either confess but was afraid of claim that masturbation is Sundays." He also stated readers have not taken a the ctoss. True, Mary's being excommunication. Abby re­ kneeling or standing in ac­ not a moral disorder? Who cordance with the norms laid that "people must be given good hard, long look at the was pierced and crushed sponded that if she were truly the option of receiving the Southern Tier, for if they psychologically and emo­ are these experts who have down by the Episcopal con­ penitent she would not be more authority than the Sacred Host on the tongue or did, they would realize how tionally. It was Jesus who excommunicated. ference." (I wonder how Church in Rome to teach on many Catholics have either in the hand. There must be greatly it has suffered under spilled his precious blood. As I understand it, any absolutely no pressure the present administration. Mary was truly obedient to moral matters. I am certain seen or heard these norms?) I Catholic who has an abortion that most Catholics who exerted in this matter. The Southern Tier has always God'js will. Jesus was obe­ or participates in obtaining cannot remember hearing would read Father Hohman's from the pulpit that when Further, some few individu­ been a poor area and this has dient at death. one, is automatically ex­ als seem to prefer kneeling. It intensified greatly in the past I believe in the intercession column in the March 14 receiving Communion stan­ communicated. Abby, not Courier-Journal would come is foolish to deny them this three years. People have lost of the saints but this uni­ being Catholic, can be ding, a sign of reverence { opportunity. Ethnic and cul­ jobs, unemployment benefits verse!, his earth and most away not knowing definitely should be made prior to excused for such an error. that the three sexual activities tural traditions have their have run out, food pantries important no men, women Father Hohman, on the receiving it. are morally wrong, and In Dominicae Cenae, our own value, as do certain can barely keep up with the and women and children, other hand, doesn't seem to spiritual orientations. It is would not see any serious Holy Father speaks to his number of calls for help, and should be consecrated to know whether masturbation, difficult to imagine that the children and women have lost none other than our Creator. reason for avoiding them. priests thusly, "Upon all of oral sex or "going all the I just realized when writing occasional individual who government benefits. It is Father God, the Saviour way" are sins at all. With us who, through the grace of prefers to kneel is a major the name of your newspaper God, are ministers of the easy for those who "have" to Jesus and the Lord Holy such non-guidance as his, is it disruption to orderly dis­ be blind to the needs of the Spirit who gives us life. that it is not, as I thought, the Eucharist, there weighs a any wonder that there is "Catholic Courier." It con­ tribution of the Sacred Host. "have nots," but once we To ask the people of the virtually no difference in the particular responsibility for To argue about this on the spicuously avoids mentioning the ideas and attitudes of our come out of our ivory towers, earth, those who are Catholic percentages of Catholics who the word Catholic in its title. basis of advancing the spirit the poverty and despair to do anything else is a contracept, have extra­ brothers and sisters who'have of Vatican II seems specious. Perhaps this accounts for the been entrusted to our pasto­ around us is shocking. "" blasphemy of God's word. marital and pre-marital sex, difficulty in finding Catholic Indeed a major thrust of I'm not perfect but I look have abortions, masturbate, ral care. It is our vocation to Vatican II is that we offer our I agree that abortion is an moral teachings in Father nurture, above all by to Jesus and to the Father are active homosexuals etc. Hohman's column, and in people some reasonable op­ important issue but to be and to the Holy Spirit. I as compared to the general personal example, every tions, rather than arbitrarilly pro-life encompasses much part for the abysmal knowl­ healthy manifestation . of consecrate myself to them population? edge of so many Catholics as impose own will on them in more, as the bishops have and to no one else. There is worship toward Christ pre­ every phase of their spiritual reminded us. When I look at Father Hohman "cops to the rights and wrongs of sent and operative in that only Mediator between God sexual morality. lives." Reagan's track record of and man. out." In his apparent fear of sacrament of love. May God Yes, by all means, un­ Our Blessed Lord told cutting social programs for preserve us from acting the children and elderly, his derstand and forgive those otherwise and weakening that Peter, "Feed my sheep." I who transgress, but instruct believe it is time for the sheep attitude toward civil rights worship by 'becoming un­ and the death penalty and his Guidelines them clearly as to what is accustomed' to various to be fed in our day wjth morally evil so they are better proper Roman Catholic in­ determination to spend more The Courier-Journal welcomes your opinions. Letters manifestations and forms of and more on the nuclear arms equipped to avoid the evil. Eucharistic worship which struction which is in line with must bear the writer's signature, full address and telephone Richard Shipley our Holy Father and Holy race rather to promote peace number. They should be sent to Opinion, Courier-Journal, expresses perhaps a 'tradi­ and improve the quality of 11 Mumford St tional' but healthy piety and Mother church and to depart 114 S. Union S.. Rochester, N.Y. 14607. life on earth, I see a man who Seneca Falls, N.Y. which express above all that from the theories of Messers 13148 Brown, Kueng, Curran, pays "lip service" to Chris­ 'sense of the faith' possessed- tian ideals. It was Christ, Opinions should be brief, typed, double-spaced, no longer by the whole people of God, McBrien and others. than 1 Vi pages. Richard A. Johnson remember, who said, "That Eucharistic as the Second Vatican which you do for the least of Council recalled." 1260 Pennsylvania Ave. We routinely condense letters, edit offensive words and Pine City, N.Y. 14871 my brothers, that you do Norms Archbishop O'Connor unto me." We need a presi­ libelous statements, and reserve the right to reject letters. EDITOR: stated, "There seems to be Generally speaking, however, only limited grammatical dent who believes this, and Having read Pope John some misunderstanding does not cater to the ideals of corrections will be made and the letters will reflect the Paul's Apostolic Letter about what the Holy See has Reagan Hurting writer's own style. the white, upper middle class "Dominicae Cenae," which approved. We do not have Southern Tier Americans. was written to all the bishops approval to distribute the Because submitted opinions exceed the space for letters, of the church on the Mystery Eucharist under both species EDITOR: we publish only original letters addressed to us. We will not and Worship of the Holy whenever desired. The I read with interest the use poetry, open letters, or copies of letters sent elsewhere. Eucharist (2-24-80) and practice is specifically re­ Southern Tier residents' re­ Susan Sieve To ensure diversity, we limit each writer to one letter per "Inaestimabile Donum," an stricted to special occasions, - plies to Sister Mary Jean 544 W. High St. month. instruction prepared by the to particular groups, to man- Smith's "blast" at President Painted Post, N.Y. 14870