Letters to the Editor

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Forgiveness leads to healing wounds

I would like to respond to a letter to the editor in the Feb. 24 issue of The Criterion.

The letter writer wrote about how he had little sympathy for Marvin Bieghler, who joined the Catholic faith before his execution. In fact, the letter writer said he has no sympathy at all for other murderers.

Jesus taught us many times over to forgive. He told the criminal on the cross next to him, “Today, you will be in paradise with me.”

Forgiveness is everything. By not forgiving, you do no harm to anyone other than yourself.

We all must forgive. I pray every day for those that I hurt, not only for them, but for their families, my family and friends.

I ask that we seek this forgiveness, and find the true blessings of our Lord. I ask everyone to look beyond the many pains of not forgiving others. Free yourself from past hurts and be healed by the blood of Jesus.

-Doug DeVore, Pendleton Correctional Facility

Catholics must defend all life, even on Death Row

Whatever happened to the U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops’ campaign to end the use of the death sentence as punishment for capital crimes?

It has been several months since it was announced that the USCCB had started such a campaign. But it seems to have died on the vine.

I had assumed that Catholic newspapers would have many articles on the subject. There have been some, but very few. I also assumed that these articles would tell of the many reasons why bishops are opposed to this form of punishment, as all Catholics should be.

I also assumed that we would be hearing much about this campaign from the pulpits since it was our bishops who started the campaign. But again, I was wrong.

Today, we have other means of safeguarding the public from these criminals, means which are less expensive than capital punishment and more humane.

From a Christian standpoint, we believe that God will forgive all sins—even the most heinous sins—if the person committing the sin truly repents. If a person is executed before he has asked forgiveness, then we must believe that he will be condemned to hell for eternity.

If, on the other hand, he is given a sentence of life imprisonment, then he would have an opportunity to repent and be forgiven for his crime, and, therefore, save his soul from damnation.

That alone should cause all Christians to oppose the death sentence. Also, with all the appeals, retrials, etc., it has been proven that a penalty of death is more expensive than life in prison.

Another compelling reason to do away with the death penalty is the advent of DNA testing, something that has been available in the past few years. Since its availability, more that 100 inmates on Death Row have been proven innocent.

How many innocent men and women have been put to death because of erroneous evidence? Also, the threat of a death sentence has not been a deterrent against crime.

It is my belief that we, as Catholics, should defend all life, not just the lives of babies.

-Winferd E. “Bud” Moody, Indianapolis

Government shouldn’t take care of all children

I must respond to the Feb. 17 column in The Criterion by Tony Magliano.

He said that the United Nation’s annual report on “The State of the World’s Children, 2006” is highly respected.

First of all, nothing the United Nations says is highly respected, and if it is, I would raise doubts as to by whom.

If you take the time to check the record of the United Nations, you would be very disappointed as to their effectiveness in anything that they undertake. They seem to be very good when it comes to helping themselves to our hard-earned tax dollars.

As for Magliano urging our congressional delegation to increase funding for the Title II Food for Peace program, I would suggest decreasing or eliminating it altogether.

If people want to help children in other countries, that’s all well and good—but not through these types of organizations. I would recommend giving to various Catholic relief agencies.

Our government should not be in the business of giving to overseas charitable organizations.

Again, it’s not the business of our government to be taking care of the world’s children.

-Robert J. Butcher, Brownstown