Editorial

Recently the Catholic Herald published several political advertisements for local elections held in April. This prompted calls from some readers asking about our policy for accepting political ads.

Since this is a presidential election year, I think it is important to clarify the role of the Catholic Church, its institutions, and individual Catholic citizens in the electoral process. John Huebscher's "Eye on the Capitol" column on this page [online here] does an excellent job in pointing out roles and distinctions.

I encourage people to go to the Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC) Web site - wisconsincatholic.org - and download the Guidelines for Church Involvement in Electoral Politics. Likewise,check out the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Web site at usccb.org for resources.

Embrace citizenship. The Catholic Church encourages the involvement of Catholics in public affairs as individual citizens and as members of parishes and dioceses. The U.S. Catholic bishops have urged "all citizens, particularly Catholics, to embrace their citizenship not merely as a duty and privilege, but as an opportunity to participate meaningfully in the building of a culture of life" (Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics, 1998).

Some try to silence the voice of Catholics in the political arena. They cry about the "separation of church and state," attempting to set up a wall between the two. But the Constitution of the United States calls for "freedom of religion," not "freedom from religion." Our forefathers did not want to establish a particular denomination as a state religion. But as people of faith, they brought their religious values to bear on our government. We must continue that tradition.

We Catholics should bring our faith into the public square to address public policy issues. Catholic teaching has much to offer our society on such issues as the life and dignity of the human person; option for the poor and vulnerable; the dignity of work and rights of workers; and caring for God's creation, to name a few.

Diocesan newspapers. As for diocesan newspapers, the WCC guidelines ban endorsing or opposing political candidates or parties. But diocesan news personnel may report on candidates' election campaigns and publicly stated positions or political views. Also, editorials and syndicated columnists may express subjective opinions or positions on political issues which do not endorse a particular candidate or political party. Publication of information regarding the candidates and the issues is encouraged to assist readers in making informed, responsible choices.

Diocesan newspapers are encouraged to accept advertising from political candidates, "since to do otherwise would seem to label politics as immoral or anti-social," say the WCC guidelines. Denial of advertising would deprive candidates of an important method of communicating with Catholic citizens. Diocesan newspapers should adopt publishing policies and rules and apply them equitably to all candidates and political parities. In every issue carrying political advertising, the Catholic Herald publishes a statement informing readers that the acceptance of political advertising does not indicate endorsement by the newspaper.

A final note: let's use common courtesy and civility in this election year. As faithful citizens we should try to influence public policy, but we should treat even those who disagree with us with respect.

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Mailbag

	Mailbag policy We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Limit letters to 200 words or less. All letters must be signed. Please include your city or town of residence. Send letters to: Mailbag The Catholic Herald P.O. Box 44985 Madison, WI 53744-4985 Fax: 608-821-3071 E-mail: info@madisoncatholicherald.org

Social impact of personal sins

To the editor:

In the April 1 issue the Catholic Herald, John P. Catlin expressed his negative comments about the substance of my letter (March 18 issue), based on his misunderstanding of the letter's intent. The intent of my letter was to point out the importance of recognizing not only the drama of the personal sin of abortion, on which recently many discussions have centered, but also its social dimension and enduring societal impacts. As John Paul II stated in his catechesis, "personal sin always has a social impact and . . . causes a worsening of the human condition" (22nd in the series on God the Father).

The cumulative effect of many single personal sins, such as abortion, has a profound social impact on our communities and our nation. The negative consequence of personal sins committed in the present, such as the sin of abortion, impacts society in the long term and is visible for generations to come.

In my letter, I discussed one such impact that abortion has on population, labor force, and Social Security. But the sin of abortion produces a multitude of structures of sin such as Planned Parenthood, abortion mills, Catholics for a Free Choice, and many devastating impacts of long term consequences.

Increasing rates of domestic violence since Roe vs. Wade may illustrate this point. As reported by Concerned Women of America, approximately 1.9 million women are physically assaulted annually in the U.S., an estimate based on actual reporting. Experts estimate, however, that the actual incidence of partner violence is closer to four million annually. Women annually report about 500,000 rapes or sexual assaults. In 1972, there were 60,000 [reported] child-abuse incidents. Four years later, the number passed the half million mark. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, slightly fewer than one million children were victims of substantiated or indicated child abuse and neglect in 1997.

Mr. Catlin errs in saying the church community provides only condemnation of "her most immediate solution (abortion)." In fact, the Catholic Church in herself and through her social agencies does provide love, understanding, and help for mothers.

Jacek Cianciara, Madison

Make abortion disqualifying issue

To the editor:

In the April 1 issue of the Catholic Herald, John Murphy stated in part: "it also does a disservice to ask Catholics and all Christians to focus primarily on abortion when in many respects we are also at a turning point in our country's history."

In the United States about 3,000 babies a day are being killed by abortion. These babies are created by God in God's image but we should take care of some other business today. There's no hurry about saving the babies. That attitude has caused the death of well over 40 million babies in our country and we shouldn't make it a priority to bring this bloodshed to an end?

We go to the polls to elect someone to an office and he or she represents my wishes on the broad range of issues and he or she represents my political party. There's only one thing wrong; this candidate supports the continued killing of unborn babies. That should be the litmus test for all of us. If a candidate supports the continued killing of babies and if we believe in the sanctity of life, he or she doesn't deserve our vote regardless of stands on the other issues.

Our casual disregard for the responsibility we have at the polling booth and/or being more concerned about our political affiliation than the lives of innocent human beings has caused today's holocaust to survive for 31 years. We desperately need to make abortion a disqualifying issue. If the candidate is wrong on this one, there is nothing else that should make him or her deserving of our support. We need this attitude to bring the killing to an end.

Mary Wilkinson and Dick Wilkinson, Markesan