Peace, then justice

I am angry, sad and mourning over the tragic death of George Floyd. But the kids in the streets breaking windows, setting fires and throwing rocks at police officers are traversing down a dead end road. As a disciple of Dorothy Day and Martin Luther King, I believe that an intense, open, transparent nonviolent campaign could help create the changes sought by Floyd’s family and city leaders. Until then, the kids rioting in the streets will get no validation or support from me.

Gene Roman
Bronx, New York

Mass return dangerous

While we are pleased the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has adopted strict health-protection guidelines for the conduct of Masses, we are still troubled by the fact that reopening church services to groups of more than 10 will inevitably increase the health risk for many. Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, and other experts in virology, have repeatedly cautioned us about the insidiousness of the coronavirus. People who are unaware they are carriers of the virus can unknowingly transmit this dangerous infection to others, some of whom are senior citizens and/or suffer from coronary disease, diabetes, or other chronic health conditions. Like so many Catholics, we look forward to again receiving the holy Eucharist at Mass after a vaccine against COVID-19 has been developed. Until that time, we believe we are all being asked to make sacrifices in order to protect the lives of our sisters and brothers. Among those sacrifices is our regular reception of the Body of Christ at Mass. As never before, we are now being challenged to follow Christ’s compelling model of sacrifice, His exemplary sign of love, when he lay down his life for humankind.

Jim and Barbara Mulrooney
Assumption, St. Paul

COVID spread concerns

As lifelong Catholics (we are 79), we were disheartened by Archbishop Hebda’s announcement that he would allow Catholic churches in this diocese to begin holding Masses if they were ready but before Gov. Tim Walz was prepared to have them reopen. We have been proud of the diligent efforts that Gov. Walz has put into protecting the people of Minnesota for the past several months during this time of pandemic. He has consistently consulted with medical officials and the scientific community before making decisions, and he has thus been able to ensure that the hospitals and health care personnel have not been overwhelmed. Eventually, the archbishop talked with Gov. Walz, and the two came to a compromise. Still, the original defiance of the rational rules of the governor gave the appearance that the Catholic Church considered itself more knowledgeable about the dangers of COVID-19 than the scientists and medical consultants who were advising the governor. In addition, the decision to reopen churches certainly puts many Catholics in a dire situation. Some, of course, will act according to their consciences and stay home. Others, however, will feel obligated to attend services even if they fear this will endanger them. We do not want the churches to replicate the situations that have occurred in meatpacking plants and nursing homes, where many have contracted the coronavirus.

Ronald and Patricia Eldred
St. Joan of Arc, Minneapolis

All God’s children

It was interesting reading the letters to the editor (April 23 and May 7).

I felt, oddly, that both of them were in response to mine (printed April 9 Re: “Seminar: Gender ideology spreads false idea of person” and “Guidelines for Catholic education affirm students’ sexual identity as biological sex,” Feb 27). But I really want to respond to Mr. Mayer (May 7). He has deduced that the pain I expressed in the last issue surely meant I am the loving mother of a “transgender” child. (I’m not sure what his italics meant.) Yes, it pains me to think of the misery we put transgenders through. And though my son is a fantastic jazz musician, he is not transgender. He has, however, on this Mother’s Day, given me a deeper sense of what it means to be a mother, as we mothers must be to all children. I did not pick his combination of genes. God chose which egg to fertilize with one out of a million sperm that day. So he has my dark hair, he’s way taller than his dad, and has beautiful green eyes neither one of us have. And he’s passionate about justice, he has friends of many races, many faiths, different genders, different sexualities. And he sees them all as God’s children. It’s as simple as that. And he taught me how to love them too. And that’s the responsibility of all of us. As Christians, as Catholics, as human beings. To love one another. Now, more than ever.

Elizabeth Rosenwinkel
St. Albert the Great, Minneapolis

Nursing home model broken

The current COVID-19 crisis has not so much caused as uncovered the real threat to our elderly populations. The nursing home model of care puts our elders at risk. While convenient for caregivers and relatives, the nursing home model of scare cannot safeguard the health and well-being of residents precisely because of what it is: a large group of physically and mentally vulnerable adults pooled into one building and cared for by a limited staff on pay. If you have an older relative in a nursing home please consider inviting them to live with you in the safety of your home during this crisis and beyond. Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said: “Love begins by taking care of the closest ones — the ones at home. Let us ask ourselves if we are aware that maybe our husband, our wife, our children, or our parents live isolated from others, do not feel loved enough, even though they may live with us. Do we realize this? Where are the old people today? They are in nursing homes (if there are any). Why? Because they are not wanted, because they are too much trouble, because ….”

Chiara Dowell
St. Peter, Forest Lake

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