Disheartened by articles
I was disheartened to read “Bishops to vaccine developers: ‘Stop using abortion-derived cell lines’” (Catholic Virginian, April 19).
As a strong practicing Catholic, I would never approve of abortion as a means of obtaining these cells for vaccine testing. But in these cases, the abortions have already taken place. I see it as a means of turning a negative event into a positive one where this aborted fetus has the opportunity to provide life-saving research measures.
I was then more disheartened to further read that Cardinal Wilton Gregory of the Washington Archdiocese stated he would not deny the Eucharist to President Biden despite the president’s deliberate, open stance on abortion.
How can the Church justify President Biden’s receiving the Eucharist yet chastise vaccine developers for use of cells post abortion? – Maryellen Coderoni, Midlothian
Column inspires living
Catholic Social Teaching In Light of Faith columnist Barbara Hughes is a gift to The Catholic Virginian! Her April 19 “Words of apology must be supported by action” has inspired me to keep learning and living the Catholic Social Teaching tenets of my faith that require me to work to promote a fundamental right to life and a right to all things needed for human decency.
I want to continue to challenge myself as the Jesuits have done to take concrete steps to offer true reparations for the sins of buying and selling those that were enslaved to use the profits to build and expand Georgetown University.
I have a renewed sense of taking responsibility for learning more about Black prophets coming from Catholic roots like Tarana Burke, who was the actual founder of the MeToo movement, before it went viral when actress Alyssa Milano invited women to share their sexual harassment abuse on Twitter in 2017, and Olga Segura, author of “Birth of a Movement: Black Lives Matter and the Catholic Church.”
Segura reminds us that Alicia Garza, Opal Tometi and Patrisse Cullors founded Black Lives Matter not as a movement pushing an extremist agenda that contradicts our faith. The Black Lives Matter movement, like the teachings in the Catholic Church, places value on human beings, building community and working together to support one another against systems of racism and oppression, centering on those that are most vulnerable.
I am grateful for the challenge to keep evolving in my faith and backing that up with action in the world. – Teresa Stanley, Virginia Beach
Dred Scott decision written by a Catholic
I read with interest Barbara Hughes’ excellent column (Catholic Virginian, April 19) on reparation and reconciliation by the Jesuits for sins that involved buying and selling Black slaves.
Hughes also mentioned other Catholic groups who historically discriminated against Blacks, and she refers to the Dred Scott decision by the Supreme Court in February 1857.
It is important to reflect that Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, who wrote the Court’s majority opinion, was a Roman Catholic. The fact that Taney freed his inherited slaves prior to his tenure as chief justice in no way mitigates his infamous decision. – Michael Miskovsky, Mathews
Biden shouldn’t be denied Communion
It’s very disappointing to see some Catholics clamoring for holy Communion to be denied to President Joe Biden over a single issue.
It was also very sad to see so many Christians willing to give a “moral pass,” as it were, to the president who preceded him. Donald Trump was easily the worst, most corrupt, most un-Christian president we’ve ever seen. He presided over an empire of lies and spewed out a daily supply of hatred, bigotry and division from the Oval Office.
Yet, because he claimed to be “pro-life,” this was justified and rationalized by some. This was a man whose own history of sleazy dealings with women (accused of sexual harassment by dozens) presented a legitimate question: How many abortions did he pay for?
By contrast, Biden is a good and decent man whose Catholic faith defines him and has sustained him through many losses and tragedies.
Surely the beautiful teachings of our faith and our Church do not come down to abortion, and abortion only. The Church has always recognized the right of its members to rely upon the dictates of our conscience on matters of all public policy questions.
The reception of holy Communion is at the very heart of what we believe. Let’s not go down the road of denying it to people who don’t comply with what is clearly an obsession with abortion among some. – Rick Howell, Roanoke