| October 5, 2009 | Volume 84, Number 25 | |
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Christian mercy seen as ‘misguided tolerance’Vince Pishioneri writes to defend the Scottish government’s decision to release Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, the “Lockerbie Bomber,” because he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. [Letters to the Editor, September 21.] Mr. Pishioneri explains that, despite the horror of Al Megrahi’s infamous crime, his release from prison is a proper, albeit difficult, expression of Christian mercy. I disagree. Normally mercy (in the form of reduced punishment) follows an admission of guilt and an expression of contrition for the wrongful act. Al Megrahi has done neither. Beyond that, however, Mr. Pishioneri fails to take into account the abundant mercy built into western-style justice based on Christian principles. Al Megrahi was granted the mercy of due process and a fair trial. He was mercifully spared execution when he was found guilty. He was humanely housed, clothed, fed, and provided medical care while in prison. None of these mercies would have likely been provided to a Christian accused of similar crimes in Al Megrahi’s native Libya. If an accommodation was to be made because of Al Megrahi’s illness, perhaps his family could have been permitted to visit him in prison. In any case, his release was not an exemplar of Christian mercy but, rather, a misguided tolerance of, and a dangerous complacency toward, unmitigated evil.
Reader disagrees with curbs on firearmsI read with incredulity Lori Haas’s emotional commentary (“Why does gun violence permeate our society?” Sept. 21 issue), full of falsehoods that I will leave to others to address, questioning whether Christians do enough to prevent violence. Because of misuses by criminals, she illogically demands curbs on the ready availability of firearms, which actually save up to 2.5 million lives each year. No other self-defense tool can be employed as effectively by trained citizens to stop violent attacks and prevent deaths, even against determined attackers who are younger, stronger, bigger, and faster. Over 90 percent of the time, the defensive firearm isn’t even discharged; its mere presence neutralizes the danger. But even in a worst case scenario where the attacker’s death results, self-defense is declared legitimate by our Church (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2263). Pope John Paul II, in his Encyclical Letter EVANGELIUM VITAE (1995), explains that a Christian’s defense of self and others is more than just a right, but a moral obligation: “Certainly the intrinsic value of life and the duty to love oneself no less than others are the basis of a true right to self-defense…legitimate defense can be not only a right but a grave duty for someone responsible for another’s life, the common good of the family or of the state.” As a Catholic, a rights advocate with the Virginia Citizens Defense League, and a certified instructor, my personal ministry is to provide firearm safety training to citizens desiring state permits to carry handguns. I advocate for the right to life at all stages of the human experience, including the right of all to defend their own lives and that of their loved ones. And so I will always fervently oppose misguided attempts to impede access to firearms for those who need and want them, so violence can be prevented where necessary, and innocent life protected and preserved.
Gun owners cherish right to bear armsAs a law abiding gun owner and advocate for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, I must respond to Ms. Haas’s emotional call to stem gun violence. (Guest commentary, Sept. 21 issue) No law abiding gun owner condones the misuse of firearms, and those used by criminals to perpetrate crimes are clearly misused. However, removing guns from criminal hands is a daunting task, as shown by the volumes of (largely ineffective) gun laws currently in existence.
The Second Amendment recognizes (does NOT grant) the right of individuals to own firearms, and was written by the Founders to provide a mechanism for the people to rebuff attempts of tyrants to abuse our form of government for their own ends. It is this concept which is so cherished by gun owners and their advocates, such as the NRA, the Virgina Citizens Defense League (VCDL), and others, that causes us to refuse to allow infringement of our rights by any sort of legislation. That states with the highest gun ownership have the highest crime rates is utter nonsense. Guns are highly regulated in New York City, handguns are outlawed completely in Chicago, and until recently were completely banned in D.C., yet these cities have gun related homicide rates that make the “Wild West” seem like church socials. Even the OK Corral didn’t have the body count of Columbine or Virginia Tech. I expect you will hear more about this issue from the firearm ownership community, as many of them will see Ms. Haas’s writing as a call to further diminish their already infringed rights.
(Editor: In the guest commentary “Why does gun violence permeate our society?” Lori Haas, wrote of the shooting death of 32 students and faculty members at Virginia Tech. Her own daughter, Emily, a Virginia Tech student, was injured by gunfire and fortunately survived the attack in a classroom in which others around her were killed. If Mrs. Haas’s commentary is deemed “emotional,” those critical of her stance should give her some slack in light of the impact the shooting had on her and her family.)
Column on racism brought insightThank you for publishing Mary Hood Hart’s Commentary dealing with racism (“Parents should not ignore talk of racism with their children,” Sept. 21 issue). In my opinion, it is an insightful, realistic perspective in what remains a very sensitive issue. How fortunate are her children to have a mother with such a deep and profound understanding. Her straight-forward unbiased, honest assessment is indeed refreshing, especially during these times when many opinions still range from extreme opaqueness to denial. Obviously there are parents whose values are counter; however, for those parents seeking information to enrich the lives of their children I highly recommend Mary Hood Hart’s Commentary.
More opportunities if one speaks EnglishIn response to Catherine Barth’s recent letter (Sept. 21 issue), I wish to echo the importance of our Hispanic brothers and sisters to learn to speak English. In the past few years the parish of Saint Bede in Williamsburg has developed an outreach to the growing number of Latino Catholics who live in our area. At present, we celebrate monthly Mass in Spanish on the fourth Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Catholic Campus Ministry Chapel, with students from William and Mary assisting us. Each Monday at the parish church the Rosary is prayed at 7 p.m. in Spanish, preceded by a class entitled “English as a Second Language” at 6. This class is open to anyone whose first language is not English. Relatively few Spanish speaking people come to this, and yet this is an important way for them to become more mainstreamed into the larger community. While the vast majority of children from Spanish speaking families are learning English, their parents seem reluctant to become conversant in English. In my opinion, we do not serve them well when we fail to encourage them to learn the main language of our country. Their opportunities increase considerably when they can communicate well in the English language.
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Unfortunately, criminals are criminals because they don’t obey the laws and lack consideration for their fellow man. If they practiced (or felt) empathy toward their neighbor, then violent crimes of all types would decrease dramatically.