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m -«/ Media slanted march news To the editor: I would like to report what really hap- pened on Monday, Jan. 23, 1989, at the Pro-life march in Washington, D.C. The 70,000 people reported in atten- dance is a completely inaccurate estimate by the media. The crowd filled Constitu- tion Avenue from the Washington Monu- ment to First Street and around the corner to the Supreme Court Building. There were more people at the march than at any sta- dium event which I have attended in excess of 80,000. In my estimation, there were at least 120,000 marchers in attendance. These people who came to march against abortion, who feel strongly enough about this holocaust to take their children out of school, to miss a day's work, to travel from all over the U.S. and Canada are a beautiful, cross section of society today. The media really plays down die commit- ment our society places on pro-life but tiiis march renewed my confidence in the moral fiber of our country. Families, clergy, all races and ages and Judeo-Christian reli^ gions were represented at mis demon- stration. The miles covered by these indi- viduals carrying banners^ young children, and baggage was enough to aggravate anyone, but the only complaint I heard was from a hungry baby. The lack of litter or any other debris after the march also speaks tor the kind of person involved in this war against abortion. I feel blessed to be among these individuals. Anodier anomaly in me press coverage of this event was the way they sought out interviews with the scant handful of pro- abortionists present while ignoring the masses of pro-life people. I was with a film crew walking all day in an attempt to get an accurate cross section of the people mere for a documentary. In my travels I saw only four pro-abortionists, the same four throughout the course of the entire day. The press flocked to these individuals while ignoring individuals among the pro- life group for interviews. Senator Moynihan shirked his responsi- bility to his constituents in all of this. Not only did he walk right by us in the hallway outside of his own office, but he left mis- leading information regarding his wherea- bouts wim his receptionist. He knew we were coming months in advance, he could not have had a previous engagement. Everybody knew he wasn't there because of his deplorable, pro-abortion voting re-; cord. The Senator left two young and inex- perienced aides to answer questions and' convey the group's thoughts back to him, although they took no notes, in a room fil- led wim hundreds of pro-lifers. Senator D'Amato was not present but he has noth- ing to hide. His voting record shows that he knows the difference between right and wrong. An Operation Rescue participant, who I meet at the march, mentioned that the media emphasized the fact that one pro- lifer in an Atlanta rescue became verbally intolerant. According to diis individual, the media neglected to mention mat the pro- abortion groups were urinating and spitting on Operation Rescue members while in silent prayer at a rescue. He went on to tell me this was the norm rather-than the excep- tion. This testimony seemed plausible early in the day but after observing the media coverage of the march I was convinced it was the truth. There is an evil force at work behind this abortion issue. I never realized it before I attended the march this year but it seems as though the media is keeping the view of the majority, the pro-life movement, from* the public eye. We are also being ignored by our congressional representatives. In closing, let me say that these pro- abortion people are the same types that had me questioning the moral values of the country that I call home. Thank God that I was led to Washington last Monday to see what is going on. I now believe, again, mat the majority in this land is good, but were are being presented vastly overweighted immoral viewpoint by our media. You'll have to draw your own conclusions as to why?! Michael Baker Route 31 Palmyra Father McBrien speaks for majority To the editor: Please keep Father Richard McBrien's column in the Courier. I do believe that he speaks for a majority of Catholics. Many letters published in the Courier written by his opponents would seem to say he is in PEACE £5 wiHj/'lg' wfer -fa Q'O tiftcr^ error and not a true theologian. I think Father McBrien's credentials as a Profes- sor of Theology at Notre Dame U. are great. I feel it is views like the letter writers against Fatiier McBrien that tare turning off many Catholics. It is likelfhe last column by Father Cuddy (C-J, Feb. 2: \Coalescing and colliding, part two\). This about altar boys, etc. Would Jesus really have cared because it took a minute extra to bring up the gifts. Because of a lack of flow, of ease? I really don't think so. This is the same wim theologians. Their purpose is to examine and evaluate Catho- lic teaching, etc. But as some say, all teach- ings are set in.concrete — what need is mere for theologians? Their thought seems to me (that) nothing can change, (so) let's take the theologians out of universities and put them into such good work as the mis- sions, working wim the poor, etc. ElmerJ.Ruisi Sandoris Circle Rochester Catholic Courier Letters Policy The Catholic Courier wishes to provide space for readers throughout the diocese to express opinions on all sides of the issues. We welcome all signed, original let- ters about current issues affecting church tyfe. Although we cannot publish every letter we receive, we seek; insofar as possible, to provide a balanced representation of expressed opinions and a variety of reflec- tions*\bn life in the church.-We will choose letters for publication based on likely reader interest, timeliness and a sense of fair play. Our discerning readers may de- termine whetiier to agree or disagree wim me opinions of me letter writers. We reserve tiieright to edit all letters. Mail them to: Catholic Courier, 1150 Buffalo Road^Rochester, New York 14624. Please include your full name as well as telephoaenumber and complete address for verification purposes. Former commission's work goes on ;i>i u liu To the editor: I want to set the record straight on Father David Mura's assertion mat the \Division of Social Ministry worked tooth and nail several years ago to dismantle the diocese's Human Life Commission\ (C-J, Jan. 5: \Coming home to roost on pro-life edu- cation\). The entire Division of Social Ministry underwent a restructuring which became effective July 1987. Wim diat res- tructuring, the Human Life Commission, as well as the International Justice and Peace Commission and the Campaign! for Human Development, ceased to exist as separate entities of the Department of Jus- tice and Peace. In its place, the three regional Offices of Social Ministry in Elmira, Geneva and Ro- chester, and the Office of the Director at die Pastoral Center are responsible for die ongoing work to implement the U.S. Bishops' Pastoral Plan for Pro-life Activi- ties. Our programs and services total over $390,000 and reflect die threefold effort called for by the Bishops in the areas of: education, public policy and pastoral care. None of the major programs of me former Human Life Commission has ceased to exist. They are carried out by our nine Jus- tice and Peace staff as part Of our commit- ment to all persons who are vulnerable and marginalized. Detennining priorities when mere are so many moral issues which need to be ad- dressed is certainly no easy task. However, I can assure you that die issue of abortion and support for the health and well-being of pregnant women and meir babies con- tinues to be a major priority for die Divi- sion of Social Ministry. Should anyone de- sire additional information about die scope of our pro-life work, we welcome men- contact wim our offices. M. Lourdes Perez-Albuerne Associate Director Division of Social Ministry Gays must abide by rules for sacraments 14 To the editor: I read Famer O'Brien's column \Bi- shops, Theologians and Unity\ (Feb. 2) and take issue wim die brief paragraph: \As priests and pastors meir instinct would be to provide Eucharist for anyone who asked for it — even if they happened to be gay or lesbian. As officials of the church they feel bound to implement policies mandated from on high. And so, mey shut down the Masses for gays and lesbians, but not without much private pain in their hearts.\ The mandate from on high was to discon- tinue special Masses exclusively for gays and to stop die use of Church facilities for gay meetings. There was no order to refuse communion to any gay or lesbian attending die regular scheduled Mass and presenting him/herself for Eucharist in private and proper manner. It is hardly appropriate for the Church to proclaim homo-sexual acts sinful and men honor the group with special Masses. The Church welcomes, all —saints and sinners alike — to participate in Mass and to par- take of the Sacraments under the rules for that sacrament! Jane Predmore Honeoye Falls Culture is losing respect To the editor: Because our culture is losing its respect for me sanctity and dignity of human life, child abuse has increased 500 percent since abortion was ' 'made legal\ by the Court. The above is a paraphrase from a talk gi- I read Father McBrien's column \Bi- tiie week of Jan. 30. Dr. Wilke, M.D., is author of the book Abortion: Questions and Answers, published in 1985 (by) Hayes Publishing Co., 6304 Hamilton Ave., Cin- cinnati, Ohio. His wife is die co-autiior. The book is a successor to Handbook on Abortion, published first in 1971 with die 21st printing in March 1983. Mary Rita Crowe East Main Street Rochester Catholic Courier
