Letters to the editor
Death penalty study shows respect for life
The bipartisan death penalty study just released, which calls for replacing the death penalty with life without parole, is a tremendous boost to the pro-life movement. I am delighted to see this day in New Jersey. My Catholic education and the values my parents instilled in me as a young boy left me with a deep and unwavering respect for life — from conception to natural death. The death penalty has long been unnecessary, as Pope John Paul II so eloquently reminded us whenever an execution was scheduled during his papacy. It is divisive as it draws out our anger over violent crime — justifiable, of course, but not to the level where we strike back with more violence even as other means are available to both punish and defend. I see the potential end of the death penalty in New Jersey as a new beginning. I hope my fellow pro-life Catholics will too, especially pro-life legislators. We will advance the pro-life cause more if we are consistent. We will reach new people, who will be reminded that life is a precious gift from God and something to deeply respect, without exception. Let us rejoice in this news but let us also take action. A handful of legislators are working to keep the death penalty, using inflammatory language. All of us — lay Catholics, clergy and sisters — must speak up now. We must tell political leaders that respect for life is too important to sacrifice for legislators, no matter what their position on the death penalty or abortion, that life is an issue about which we care deeply. In New Jersey, we have not had too many opportunities like this to celebrate life. I hope the Catholic Church takes the lead on this issue — and that means all of us.
Harry A. Olmsted
Chatham
Amended answers
May I call attention to two errors on page one of the January 18 edition under “Test your knowledge about Catholicism”:
Question 3 — How many times is a Catholic permitted to receive Holy Communion on the same day? The answer is only twice in normal circumstances, as long as the second reception occurs during Mass. Decision made on 26 June 1984, publication ordered by Pope John Paul II on 11 July 1984 (from newsletter of the Bishop’s Committee on the Liturgy, Vol. XXIV, February 1984) should a person fall into danger of death, they should receive Viaticum, even if this would be the third time that day they have received Holy Communion.
Question 4 — The most preferred sacrament for those in danger of death is primarily Baptism. Only if a person has been baptized would the Eucharist be the preferred sacrament.
Msgr. Donald M. Endebrock
St. Joseph Parish, Carteret
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