Chauvin needs prayers, too

As we have had to watch Derek Chauvin, over and over, kneeling on George Floyd’s neck, we now watch this same man, over and over, being led away in handcuffs. If we have finally learned our lesson, that all lives matter, let’s extend our respect to Derek Chauvin, because his life matters, and his neck is now under the knee of the community. Let us pray for him.

Mary Ellen Halverson
Christ the King, Minneapolis

Preserving George Floyd Square

As Catholics, we have a unique understanding of sacred space and experience in preserving holy sites. We need to be standing up with our Black sisters and brothers — indeed all of our community — in protecting George Floyd Square. Just as we would not tolerate cars driving over cemeteries and other sacred spaces, we as Catholics need to exert our collective pressure on leaders to invest in a pedestrian-friendly community memorial at 38th & Chicago. By legitimizing this space, we could see a reduction of crime and — as we know so well from the building up of Catholic holy places around the world — this would benefit local businesses by encouraging visitors to come in a respectful way.

Nicole Adams Blume
St. Cecilia, St. Paul

Praying for Biden’s conversion

One may enjoy the civility of President Biden’s delivery but do not be fooled, as his actions speak louder than his congenial words. He has already proven to be the most pro-abortion president with the funding of Planned Parenthood, allowing the use of aborted baby tissue for research, and backing the Equality Act, which may infringe on our religious liberties, to name a few. He professes to be a devout Catholic but undermines the most fundamental truth of the Church: that of holding sacred all human life beginning at conception. St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta has said, “The greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion.” I am praying for the conversion of our president and country.

Margie Boyd
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Hastings

Fifth commandment

President Joe Biden doesn’t miss any opportunity to promote his political agenda, and reciting that he is a practicing Catholic falls into that category. Biden endorses/supports abortion and infanticide. This is in violation of the commandment “Thou shalt not kill.” As a lifelong Catholic, I was taught that one needed to be in the state of grace to receive the Eucharist. Receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation and having one’s sins forgiven might achieve that goal. However, I cannot understand how continuing to support the killing of innocent children would grant forgiveness. All of the people that voted for Biden are complicit in the killing of babies.

Marian Salo
St. Joseph, Rosemount

Planned Parenthood’s power

A letter writer in the April 15th issue of The Catholic Spirit was urging all to “stop casting the first stone” regarding Joe Biden and his faith practice. I agree, that’s a matter between him and his God. That does not exempt us from our responsibility to hold accountable our Washington legislators and their determination to continue to provide taxpayers’ money to Planned Parenthood with no public accountability on how that money is spent. The corruption of Planned Parenthood is rampant in using that money to litigate against pro-life groups and states, and spend taxpayer money to boost the election of their pro-abortion favorites. No other group is allowed to spend taxpayers’ money to support political candidates — that’s illegal. Furthermore, they plan to fund the exporting of Planned Parenthood and their programs to foreign countries. These countries are asking that they not “kill our people, but provide material support to their poor.” It’s time for the American people to wake up to what’s going on with the forces who are in control. It’s time for Catholics to start a campaign of Divine Mercy Chaplets, praying as Christ dictated, for the conversion of the hearts of our government leaders.

Gene Floersch
Our Lady of Peace, Minneapolis

Most important matter

The April 15 letter “Biden support” begins with “Praise the Lord!” We do need to praise the Lord, not for Biden being in the White House, but just because we’re here. God has given us life. From a few cells, and in just nine months, he’s created a complete human being. It’s amazing, a miracle and a privilege to be able to live this life. And so it’s not inappropriate that some bishops focus on one issue, if the issue is the most important: a matter of life and death. What does seem inappropriate is someone in government honoring his faith in outer ways, while at the same time condoning the killing of God-created babies in the womb — babies that are too small to fight for themselves, so they can’t experience the miracle of being alive in this world that we’re privileged to know. Those in government also have the power to affect public policy.

Lucille Carlson
St. Peter, Forest Lake

More than abortion

The recent letter to the editor in support of Biden referred to his critics as focused on one issue. Not sure how being against Biden’s support of forcing the Little Sisters of the Poor to pay millions of dollars in fines, tax funding of abortion up until birth, life-altering mutilation of children with gender dysphoria, and reducing our religious freedom is just one issue?

Russ Rooney
Mary Queen of Peace, Rogers

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