Letters to the editor

SUPPORT H.R. 1

 The House of Representatives (recently) passed the For the People Act which addresses the reforms needed in our national election system. As Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet we are called by our mission to work always for healing and reconciliation in relations among all persons. Flowing from this mission we deeply desire to help repair the fractured relationships that have divided our country during this difficult election. We believe that our nation cannot move forward without reclaiming our essential unity. The right to vote is essential to our democracy and to our national unity. Every voter, no matter their party, needs to feel secure in the validity of their vote.

H.R. 1 For the People Act of 2021, is a big step toward protecting our democracy and securing our electoral system. It improves access through simplifying and modernizing our voting system. It promotes integrity by restoring the protections of the Voting Rights Act and commits our country to fortifying the integrity of our elections.

Now the bill moves to the Senate for voting. It is my hope that people of faith will be among those who support this bill and urge their senators to do the same. We cannot allow partisan politics to obscure the good that this bill will do in securing our right to vote and our fundamental trust in the validity or our elections.

Sister Danielle Bonetti, CSJ
Coordinator Justice Ministry
Sisters of St. Joseph of 
Carondelet, Albany Province

DIFFERENT LIGHT

The (Feb. 25) issue of The Evangelist had a guest column titled, “Make a pilgrimage to Elmina Castle.” Ironically, the Catholic League sent out an email to members citing Ms. Williams in a not-so-friendly light — she said the “Church” played the leading role in the history of slavery and was “the first global institution to declare that Black Lives did not matter.” It was so compelling, I shared it on my Facebook page. President Bill Donohue’s piece is worth reading.

Mary K. O’Donnell
Saratoga Springs

(Editor’s note: The story referred to in the above letter that Donohue referenced was published in the Washington Post.)

IMMIGRATION DEBATE I

Instead of castigating Joe Biden for not imposing on others his personal views on abortion, we should praise and support his efforts on increasing access to vaccines for COVID and health care, reuniting migrant children with their families, paying attention to climate change and repairing the damaged U.S. image worldwide. Suggesting President Biden is not practicing his Catholic faith is shameful given Joe Biden’s clear commitment to humanity. I, for one, am pleased to see a compassionate human being in the White House.

Kathleen Economides
Delmar

IMMIGRATION DEBATE II

Responding to the “Immigration Debate” letter from John Olenik. He mentioned the “Render unto Caesar …” quote from Jesus in regard to the immigration laws. That quote was referring to paying taxes. If you attach it to the immigration laws, you have to go further and look at what is God’s (law). The people are God’s children and the land belongs to God, not to us. God has a bigger stake in this issue than “Caesar.” I think we will have to answer to how we treated God’s end of the deal rather than how we obeyed the laws. As Catholics who follow Christ’s teaching, we have to have compassion before we obey man’s laws. And I think Jesus wants each of us to pay our fair share of our taxes.

Andrea Mungas
Cambridge

FASTING FROM SIN

If “Fasting from sin” (March 4) is such a challenge for you then it looks like for all the world that you have not yet gotten born again by receiving Jesus and having faith in His Name. Otherwise, just by doing what comes naturally as a son (daughter if you prefer) of God Jesusbeliever — being led by Jesus as your Boss and the Holy Ghost as your Teacher and source of power and energy — you could very easily stay away from sin.

Joel Nelson
Schenectady

Letters are subject to editing and should be 100 words or less, concern topics covered in The Evangelist and include your town and telephone. Essays or opinion pieces, 700 words maximum, are also welcome. We prefer submissions by email ([email protected]), or by mail (40 N. Main Ave., Albany 12203)