Letters to the Editor

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Where is a Democrat running for president willing to stand up for the unborn?

I was at the 47th annual March for Life in Washington, and witnessed President Donald J. Trump’s speech where he proclaimed himself “the most pro-life president in history.” Perhaps he misspoke: he should have proclaimed himself the most anti-abortion president in history. Because, without a doubt, he is that.

When this election cycle began, I was desperately seeking a Democratic presidential nominee to support because other human rights issues are also important to me. I thought I might find one of the pool to support as I read through their voting records and stances on issues. I was deeply saddened to note that each and every one has an identical opinion about abortion rights.

Each professes that a woman should have the right to abort her unborn child at any time during her pregnancy, and that the American public should increase funding to Planned Parenthood to make sure that abortions are not just legal but free. Not one Democratic presidential nominee is against abortion, and at least one is Catholic and most are people of faith.

Sen. Bernie Sanders’ faith is difficult to pin down. He has a Jewish background, but has been quoted to say that he does not practice his faith. He has been quoted as saying that there is one litmus test for a Democrat.

If you are a true Democrat, according to Sanders, you will defend a woman’s right to an abortion at any time during her pregnancy, you will support an increase of funding for Planned Parenthood to make sure that abortions are free, and you will only support federal judges who believe that Roe v. Wade should be codified into law.

Science has proven definitively that life begins at conception. The Church has taught since the beginning that murder is a grave sin. The Fifth Commandment is “thou shall not kill.” How can there be no Democrat in the running for that party’s presidential nomination who is pro-life and anti-abortion?

It is true that cruelty to illegal immigrant families, racism and prejudice against other cultures are wrong, but when I put those issues on one side of the scale and using tax money to provide unlimited abortions for any reason on the other side, it becomes clear to me that I need a presidential candidate who is anti-abortion.

Is there one Catholic Democrat willing to step up and be a 100 percent pro-life candidate for president?

- Jennifer Ertel | North Vernon

Fruit of President Trump’s labor in the pro-life area is pretty good, reader says

The letter to the editor in the Feb. 14 issue of The Criterion, “President Trump fails to respect life in many ways,” makes some good points but offers a poor argument.

The letter writers base their argument on their own very broad definition of pro-life, and then show that Trump does not fit their definition; hence, he is not pro-life. I consider myself pro-life; however, I do not fit their definition either.

The really disturbing point of the letter is when they state, “Not too many years ago, Donald Trump proclaimed himself to be pro-choice.”

We could say the same thing about Abby Johnson: She was pro-choice, and is now pro-life. People back in biblical times said the same thing about St. Paul: he hated the Church of Jesus Christ and persecuted it; now he is an evangelist for the Church—can it be true? What is the point of such statements?

The point is to disparage and ridicule President Trump. It is not what one was that matters, but the fruit of their labor now. The fruit of the president’s labor in the pro-life area is pretty good; it is effective. It has caused Planned Parenthood to put all its efforts and resources into getting rid of the president; that point alone is reason enough for supporting President Trump.

I would label any public official pro-life if they proposed a ban on late-term-abortions as President Trump did in his Feb. 4 State of the Union address. Consider this: all front runners for the opposing party’s nomination for president are all on record supporting unlimited abortion access. How sad.

- Paul Kachinski | Greenwood

Most important thing we get from government is the freedom to do as we ought

It seems we have a reader debate raging over President Donald J. Trump in the Letters section of The Criterion, so I wanted to give my two cents.

First, I want to acknowledge The Criterion for publishing letters critical of its reporting. I believe openness to respectful criticism is a Christian trait, so thank you for exercising it.

Now, as for this Trump business, I believe many in our nation have come to expect far too much from the office of the president, and our government more generally.

Christ did not command us to pay our taxes, and let the government deal with the poor and sick. He said it’s our responsibility. I commend Criterion readers and writers who take this mandate seriously.

However, I fear that too many think that supporting this politician or that one absolves them from their individual responsibility to build the kingdom of God; or worse, that supporting the political opposition is some unforgivable moral transgression.

The most important thing I want from our government is the freedom to do as I ought.

- Dr. Patrick Knerr | Plainfield

Reader: The Criterion is committed to conveying ideas through lens of Catholic moral attitude

Regarding readers’ recent opinions on the political favoritism of The Criterion, I’d like to respond with my own thoughts.

I can’t say what type of political bias I may be reading in The Criterion because I am reading the newspaper through biased eyes myself.

I consider myself conservative and, yes, I voted for President Donald J. Trump. Sometimes, when reading this paper, my own political thoughts are affirmed. And, other times, they are challenged.

I find this refreshingly good reading, certainly good for thinking.

Political bias or not, I appreciate The Criterion’s commitment to conveying ideas through the lens of Catholic moral attitudes. No political party represents the thinking of the Catholic Church.

Sometimes, I feel the best thing I can do when studying current events is to pray that our leaders, under the guidance of Christ, aided by his Church, will follow the will of God.

Sometimes they do; sometimes they don’t.

Either way, The Criterion helps me to see what is going on from the right perspective.

- Jamie Huber | Clarksville