Gratitude for Bishop Pates Q&A

Thank you to writer Christina Capecchi and The Catholic Spirit for the deeply inspiring interview with our beloved Bishop Pates. His qualities of wisdom, wit and warmth are an example toward excellence to which I can only attempt to aspire. I wish for him a fulfilling retirement (at last). May he indeed write his book, for the edification of us all.

Lawrence Lawyer
Cathedral of St. Paul, St. Paul

God-inspired abortion decision

Thank you, Lord, for inspiring the SCOTUS to overturn Roe v. Wade. What took you so long?

To die is sorrowful, but the idea of having to die without having lived is unacceptable.

  • based on a statement by Erich Fromm, German sociologist

Rich Osborn
Christ the King, Minneapolis

Roe overturned, now what?

Many Catholics appear to be happy with Roe overturned and the babies the ruling will now save. But those babies represent real lives. If they survive infancy and beyond, many will still be living in poverty (the rich will be able to get abortions regardless), still have little or no access to birth control, still be discriminated against, still have unmet mental health needs, still be raped, assaulted, treated as second class citizens, particularly if they are female or people of color, and if they are LGBTQ+, God help them, because this fractured society will not. The promises of pro-life advocates to take care of the babies saved rings hollow. We’ve had years to do this. In a world without universal health care, family leave, without guarantee to clean water, air and unpolluted earth, and with more guns than the entire Ukrainian army, are we really taking care of the babies that have been saved? Or just the fetuses?

Elizabeth Rosenwinkel
St. Albert the Great, Minneapolis

Safety of mothers

Even though Roe v. Wade has been overturned, giving birth in this country is still dangerous. According to a recent study in Obstetrics & Gynecology, homicide is now the leading cause of death for pregnant women in the United States — and the rates are higher for Black women. Women still experience intimate partner violence at disturbingly high rates, and the U.S. still has the highest rates of maternal mortality in the developed world. Please call on your elected leaders to better protect pregnant women.

Nick Hansen
Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis

Marijuana and heartbreak

The Randy Bacchus story was heartbreaking and represents every parent’s nightmare. I’m glad his family has come forward with his story. One thing to be learned, of course, is that marijuana is not an innocuous drug. Another may not be as explicit. Children who suffer learning disabilities, (ADHD being one of the most prevalent), often deal with high levels of anxiety and depression, tempting them to misuse substances such as marijuana, tobacco and alcohol. This may persist into adulthood. Until the underlying issue is treated, interventions may not be very successful. In my years as a physician, I often noticed that it was people of faith who were most reluctant to consider medical treatment; to have themselves or their children placed on medication. I suspected they believed that behavioral issues were better treated with good parenting. Intellect and mood are not just spiritual issues. They are greatly influenced by our brain, which is an organ. Good parenting cannot always make up that, any more than it would for diabetes or asthma.

G.J. Mayer
St. Peter, Forest Lake

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