Pregnancy resource center help

It is disappointing to read letters in your paper from those who have seemingly bought the secular media’s narrative that those of us who are pro-life and worked hard to overturn Roe v. Wade only care about “fetuses” and nothing for women experiencing difficult and/or unwanted pregnancies. The real fact is that pro-lifers support about 40 pregnancy resource centers in Minnesota that provide health, emotional, educational and financial support, for as long as is needed, for women and men facing these situations. Pro-lifers know the solution to unwanted pregnancies is not to kill the innocent child but to provide support for those facing such pregnancies, and have worked just as hard to do that as they have to overturn Roe v. Wade. It is sad that so many Catholics seem to be unaware of this and have not helped promote these pregnancy resource centers.

Jim Kremer
St. Ambrose, Woodbury

Care expansion necessary

While reading the responses to the original letter to the editor of July 28 (“Roe overturned, now what?“), it occurred to me that some of the response writers didn’t take the original letter in the “spirit” in which it was written. I did not take it in the same way as the three responders did. They took it as she was saying that pro-lifers didn’t do anything to help women and children who end up in a difficult pregnancy situation. I believe that she was commenting more on the fact that we could be doing a lot more to help. Pregnancy help centers generally cut off direct help by the time the (almost aborted) child is about 12 months old, and that is not always enough. We also need to help support these women and families when they are in tough situations both before they get pregnant and after the first birthdays, when financial and social situations can be very challenging also. This includes supporting programs like food stamps, school lunches and other government programs to help the poor that many “conservative” people do not support, putting their own financial well-being ahead of helping others through taxes.

Terry Hawkins
St. Pascal Baylon Church, St. Paul

Papal respect, abortion concerns

In answer to the letter “Catholics in confusion” (July 28), I would say that we should honor the pope because of his office as the Vicar of Christ. Our Lord has given the keys to the kingdom to St. Peter and his successors, and one man’s questionable decisions do not change that. We as Catholics ought to respect the office of pope, even if we have difficulty respecting the man currently holding that office. I am concerned by what the letter “Roe overturned, now what?” Implies (also July 28). Although the author may not have meant this, it seemed to say that babies who are born in difficult circumstances would be better off being aborted. What is worse: to live in poverty, to be assaulted or to die? Should children be killed because they might have a difficult life? There perhaps is more that we could do to help, but any outcome is better than abortion.

Serena Hedman
St. Raphael, Crystal

Inspirational leadership

In the letter “Catholics in Confusion” (July 28), the author wrote that Pope Francis was discouraging him and displaying lack of leadership by not adhering to the teachings of the Church. He pointed out that the pope took time to talk with Nancy Pelosi as evidence. Since we don’t know all the details of what transpired there or the ultimate outcome of their encounter, I’m not sure how he’s judging that. I’m old enough to be suspicious of the opinions of folks who think they are holier than the pope. For my part, I find that Pope Francis’ leadership is inspirational and exciting. He is leading in the way of Jesus’ love! Perhaps “Confused Catholic” could find some clarity if, instead of watching sketchy internet sites, he were to read the New Testament and then think, “What would Jesus do?”

Karen Karn
Holy Name of Jesus, Wayzata

Finding the sacred

Pope Francis is alarmed that so many Catholics are embracing the pre-conciliar Tridentine Mass and rejecting the liturgical reforms of Vatican II. The group he speaks of constitutes about 1% of the total Catholic population of the U.S. but is purportedly growing. Not long ago, Pew Research polling revealed that only 39% of Catholics regularly attend Sunday Mass, only 17% receive the sacrament of penance more than once a year and most shockingly — only about 30% believe that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist! Something has clearly gone awry in the Church, and Catholics who have sought a restoration of the sacred and found it in the old Mass should be the very least of the Vatican’s concerns.

Robert Sandquist
St. Agnes, St. Paul

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