| January 23, 2012 | Volume 87, Number 6 | |
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Strong disagreement on deathbed confessionsIn regard to the Letter “Deathbed confessions need to be allowed” by Mary Alice Hoffman in the Jan. 9, 2012 issue, it is difficult to fathom that any Catholic in this century believes that death should properly occur “in agony.” Or that a deathbed confession is required to avoid the fires of hell, or that pain management somehow robs the patient of a chance at forgiveness. Really? Somehow an omniscient and all-loving God is unaware of the dying person’s true wishes and thoughts? Please. I hope the writer does not advertise these beliefs in public, representing them as “Catholic.” How mortifying. Such representation would truly “give scandal.” I also hope the writer does not work in a health care setting.
Writer’s view on death ‘appallingly cruel’I find Mary Alice Hoffman’s viewpoint on sin, death and punishment to be appallingly cruel (Letters, Jan. 9 issue). To deliberately withhold pain-relieving medication to the dying until they are induced to make some confession of sin is nothing less than torture, a mindset more in keeping with a disciple of Torquemada than of Christ. I do not know if Ms. Hoffman is a mother, but if she is, I wonder which of her children she would be willing to condemn to agony as punishment for their sins. Yet she expects medical professionals (who have taken an oath to do no harm) to torture God’s children in His place. The God that I know and worship is the essence of love. He could not and would not torture his own children for their transgressions. Any god who would is not worthy of our worship.
Why should one suffer in death, reader asksWhile I respect Ms. Hoffman’s view that deathbed confessions need to be allowed, I strongly disagree that we should hold back medication for patients leaving this world for the next.
Drugs are administered for the benefit of patients, not to make any family member feel better, although the two are not always mutually exclusive. In many instances, patients have made their peace with God, confessed their sins, and are ready to go. Priests and chaplains are often at the bedside to help the patient with their spiritual needs. I also strongly disagree that the staff “don’t have much to do for these patients.” The staff assures that patients can leave with dignity, respect, on their own terms, in their own way and, if that isn’t possible, in a way that their family agrees is best. Helping patients in their time of need is neither illegal, illicit nor immoral. But it is an honor and a privilege.
Catholic weddings need encouragementShould parishes charge fees for baptisms, first Communions and reconciliation along with weddings? How about going back to the sale of indulgences or instituting pre-payment on last rites? Marriage remains a sacrament. And although I wholeheartedly support pre-Cana instruction, parishes and priests should otherwise throw open the sanctuary doors to encourage and welcome couples to wed in the Catholic faith, Those couples and their children will remain the foundation of the Catholic Church in America for future generations. Interesting that on the same day I read Father Doyle’s column in the Dec. 26, 2011 issue of The Catholic Virginian, I also read Bishop William Lori’s words in Columbia (magazine), “It is noteworthy that Jesus first manifested his glory at a wedding feast. . . Christian marriage symbolizes the love of Jesus for his Church and, in a sense, makes this love present in the world.” I understand why extravagant weddings, receptions and accessories may or should be discouraged. Extravagance is not limited to weddings, but is witnessed also in celebration of other sacraments, perhaps just not so publicly. Certainly, charity in lieu of extravagance should be encouraged. But please do not restrict access to a church wedding because of petty philosophical or financial differences. Parishes serve, in part, to encourage, promote and provide venues for Catholic sacraments so as to perpetuate the Church and the Catholic faith. If marriages are shortsightedly available only to a privileged few, then almost assuredly there will be a lesser need for Catholic parishes in the future.
Father Doyle’s column does not appear in the Web edition of The Catholic Virginian.
Death penalty costs disputed by readerI would like to comment on the letter from Jerry Givens, a former employee of the Department of Corrections (Jan. 9 issue), regarding his new found opposition to the death penalty as it is carried out in the Commonwealth of Virginia. First and foremost, I would like to know where he got his facts and figures regarding the costs involved in the execution of someone in Virginia. Two to three million dollars to execute someone seems like a ridiculous and excessive amount of money to me unless it includes the entire time the person is incarcerated — housed, clothed, fed, cared for and watched over while they are on death row. Then again, some prisoners have spent over 20 years on death row which is just as ridiculous as what Mr. Givens claims it costs to execute someone in Virginia. The time spent on any death row should have a three-year maximum. Secondly, Mr. Givens needs an attitude adjustment to ponder over and think about the positive aspects of his career and the executions he helped carry out while employed by the Department of Corrections. Who says capital punishment does not deter crime? Think about this, how many of those 62 inmates that he helped put to death have ever come back to commit another heinous crime? Killing is justified in many instances whereas murder is not. Mr. Givens also stated that he prayed “over” and “with” the condemned quietly. What about the victims of these men? Did he pray silently for them also? After 17 years with the Department of Corrections and 62 executions, what brought him to the realization that the death penalty is wrong? If the truth be known, we are not carrying out these executions in a timely fashion as they should be carried out. Should justice be served? Absolutely! The death penalty should be as swift and as sure as possible. Compassion and love of my fellow man, yes. I have deep compassion for the victims, not the perpetrators of these heinous crimes against humanity.
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