Letters to the Editor

I feel your news brief on Page 5 of the Feb. 26 issue, “Biden lifts historically low refugee limit,” was too political. It is important to use statistics that show the correct numbers. In the month after President Biden took office, encounters with migrants along the southern border went up 28% from the month prior, and 174% from the same time last year. It is also important to keep in mind that many of these supposed “refugees” are crossing our border illegally.  Americans have always welcomed people in desperate need. Why aren’t we helping the Christians leave Africa, where many are being killed? These are refugees. President Trump slowed the influx of migrants to get a hold on the flow. Now, in one month, the borders and aid stations are swamped.  Just because we are Catholic doesn’t mean we can’t help people legally. But what “global crisis” was Susan Gunn, director of the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, referring to in the article?  — Maureen Lenicka 

The Feb. 26 cover feature “Catholic schools take the lead in reopening” celebrates Catholic schools as trailblazers, putting the needs of students and families first. The fact that some schools are opening are great, however so many more remain closed. My son attends a public school in a smaller district in LA County applied for a waiver and been able to open since November 2020. My question is why are the majority of Catholic schools waiting so long? As a former Catholic school teacher, I am familiar with the struggle many schools face with low enrollment. One school that I worked at had to close after a long struggle to stay open. Another, where I taught combined classes, was also fighting to stay afloat. With a 3rd grade class of only 7, and a 5th grade of 11, the chances to stay open were slim. Then the pandemic came. As scientists learned more regarding the virus, we heard from pediatricians and other medical professionals that students needed to return to school. Online learning was damaging to mental and psychological health. I understood why the public schools were still closed – they were beholden to large unions that played politics and placed their own interest before that of families and children. But what was never clear to me is why the archdiocese did not step up to open their schools sooner? Catholic schools, free to make their own decisions, were not under the thumb of powerful unions, and yet still remained closed. This was a fantastic chance to show the community that Catholic schools do care for the best benefit of students, obviously while still adhering to safety protocols. As we have heard from experts for months. By opening the schools, the archdiocese had a chance not only to boost enrollment, but perform an act of Christian charity for so many families desperately in need of sending their children back to school. I pray for this generation of students that have lost so much during this pandemic. Only time will tell how much damage we have caused our students. I hope the trend continues as more Catholic schools open in the Los Angeles Archdiocese. - Yadranka Draskovic

A big thanks to Mike Aquilina for a wonderful article on St. Joseph. I liked it so much that I immediately ordered Aquilina’s new book, “St. Joseph and His World” (Scepter Publishers, $12).

I already finished the book, both because it’s short, and because I couldn’t put it down. It covered everything but without excess baggage. I’ve always been devoted to St. Joseph, but now I can actually understand why. He has become a more real person, and more important, thanks to Aquilina’s book.

Aquilina does a great job incorporating the Old Testament background and the “Jewishness” of St. Joseph. It helps put into perspective the “lowliness” of Mary, who was not the “boss” of the family, although we may sometimes think so.

This week, I’ll be taking the book to a homebound friend so that she can also experience getting to know St. Joseph better. It will be on top of my list of Lenten/Easter gifts and recommendations for friends. I've even considered sending a copy to my Jewish family (I am the only Catholic, being a convert).

Thanks again for a well-researched project.

- Marilyn Boussaid, St. James Parish, Redondo Beach

Dear Editors, The article "An Hour for Christian Witness" in the Nov. 27-Dec. 4 issue of Angelus ends with “But whether Biden will govern with a consistently Catholic approach on the issues will remain to be seen”. There isn’t any ambiguity in how a Biden-Harris administration will eviserate Catholic beliefs from abortion to freedom of religion. Joe Biden is against the Hyde Amendment and the Mexico City policy. He would work to require all health insurance policies pay for contraceptives and many abortifacients. Kamala Harris questions whether a Knight of Columbus can be a Judge. As California attorney general she virulently attacked pro-life pregnancy counseling centers, attacking both freedom of speech and religion, and for the moment loosing that battle in SCOTUS decision in NIFLA v. Becerra. Respectfully, Dennis De Pietro Pasadena

Regarding the essay on Rod Dreher's "Live Not By Lies," titled "Resist or reach out? The Catholic dilemma after the 2020 election": Both as Christians and citizens, the search for truth is essential. Yet never before have Americans been so out of touch with reality. However the “soft totalitarianism” we are experiencing does not come from cultural elites. Rather, financial elites and enemy nations have joined together and created the most effective and highly targeted misinformation campaign in history, thanks to consolidated news sources and social media. Do not be mistaken here: your cable company and computer know more about you than your spouse; and no psychological tool has been spared in this carefully crafted manipulation. Awareness of this fact is the first step in discerning truth from lies. We live in a time of intentional division in our Church and in our nation, designed explicitly to weaken its members. Furthermore, the primary tool of this division is misinformation, misdirection, oversimplification and outrage. It is incumbent upon each of us to recognize and resist this division. As citizens we must learn how to distinguish truth, from partial truths and lies; and as Christians we would do well to consider how much time we spend on the sins of others, versus our own. It is only through personal humility, and prayer that we allow God to work in us. Mrs. Douglas Jungwirth Porter Ranch, California

I like your idea of the series by what you call “Catholic thinkers.” Aren’t all of us Catholics called to be Catholic thinkers, applying faith to life? That takes thinking and discernment.

I think you’re thinking of “thinkers” as in “think tanks.” I don’t think you mean “Catholic intellectuals,” an older, perhaps too elitist phrase, though, for example, wonderful Father Ronald Rolheiser is exactly that, and a theologian, too.

I think you need a better description, something like, “Catholics with special experience or expertise,” or “Catholics in thought and deed.”

- Phil Argento