Letter to the Editor from Loganville, Ga

Published: February 15, 2007

To the Editor:

I would like to comment about this article that was printed in The Georgia Bulletin from Washington a couple of weeks ago (“New Congress More Religiously Diverse,” Jan. 18).

Maybe Catholics are thought to be well represented, but I don’t agree. If these members of Congress are true Catholics, then Roe v. Wade would be overturned. Are these members practicing Catholics or just Catholic in name only? Do they regularly attend Mass and partake of the sacraments, or is it just lip service to be affiliated with a Christian group, especially at election times?

We need Catholics on Capitol Hill that are true Catholics, where their faith is an integral part of their daily lives and not just something they put on, like their Sunday best, to attend Mass. Where their faith is considered when they vote on bills that come before them, because their heart tells them it is right or wrong, according to their beliefs and upbringing.

They cannot and should not separate their Catholic faith and their political life. My faith, my political opinions and my daily life are intertwined and influence each other.

The cardinals, archbishops, and bishops of these Catholic congressional members should visit the elected officials and inform them that they should perform their duties following the teachings of the Catholic Church. In fact, this should be done with state and local elected officials also. If this is considered to be a violation of the separation of church and state, then the officials need to go back and read the actual passage pertaining to this. It only means that the government will not establish an official religion.

Gabriel Theriot, Loganville