Letters to the Editor
Adoptee responds to reader’s letter on the ‘right to know’
In the March 8 issue I read with interest the letter from Mr. Merkler regarding “What adoptees deserve to know” [page 5]. A couple of phrases in his letter jumped out at me and I felt I had to write.
First, I am currently being treated for a serious illness and I agree that some access to medical records of birth parents could be useful. But “knowledge of one’s cultural, social roots is integral to the development of a healthy identity.” This sounds like some slight snob appeal. Also, Merkler wrote: “One should . . . attempt to imagine the void left by its absence, in addition to the profound sense of rejection that every adopted person must carry throughout his lifetime.”
I was adopted by a loving couple who raised me with all the loving care anyone could, sent me to college, loved my wife and son, and would have reveled in their great grandson if they had lived to see him. They told me my birth name and I have all my adoption papers. From them I can only surmise that I was very sick when I was born and only imagine the painful decision my birth parents had to make. But I never, never thought of putting my Mom and Dad through the hurt of making them think I wanted to find my “cultural and social roots.” Nor have I carried through my life any “profound sense of rejection.” And I certainly don’t feel relegated to second-class status!
As I read his letter I got an underlying feeling that Mr. Merkler might have the problems he refers to, but I hope his children never do and have a happy and loving life as I have had.
R.J. Nicholson
Monroe Township
The trouble with gambling fundraisers
I am certainly not opposed to gambling to produce revenue for the needs of New Jersey, however the [March 8] page 3 article about the numerous and varied ways the Church uses to increase funds was disconcerting.
Although casino nights, car raffles, carnivals, bingo, trips to Atlantic City, monthly 50/50 drawings, calendar raffles and tricky tray events are certainly ways to increase the revenue not coming into the collection baskets, one cannot help but wonder how these gambling enterprises are viewed by non-Catholic members of the community. The fact that alcohol often is included in these events compounds the problem. Is this what we are about?
Just wondering — has there ever been a casino night to aid the victims of Darfur?
Randy “RJ” Kowalik
Dunellen
Readers’ letters
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Opinions expressed in this section are those of the letter writer and do not necessarily reflect Church teaching, or the position of The Catholic Spirit or the Diocese of Metuchen.
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