Local News
Letters To the Editor
Published: November 25, 2010
To the Editor:
I would like to begin by saying that I was one of the privileged few Catholic males in the diocese that responded to the call to attend the first annual Georgia Catholic Men’s Conference. My thanks go to those in charge of putting on the conference. It was very well done and the speakers were outstanding. The accommodations, vendors and food were perfect. The topics spoken about were right on target to remind all Catholic men of their role as the spiritual leader of their family and how that role begins the ripple effect that will continue through every generation as well as into the family, parish community, diocese, state and country. As we men don’t live up to the role God has bestowed upon us as spiritual heads of our families, the family is weakened, which is destroying our country due to the ripple effect mentioned above. Satan knows that the destruction of the family will destroy the world since the family is the basis for life. I would encourage every man in the Atlanta Diocese to mark your calendar for next year and every parish to promote and encourage the men of your parish to attend. We can change the family and the country by living the will of God in our lives as the example for our children will imitate. I leave you with this thought—that those who did not attend missed out on a great opportunity to be with a few good men and come out a disciple of Christ. See you next year.
Herbert Blanchard
Austell
To the Editor:
Your recent edition (“Notable,” The Georgia Bulletin, Nov. 11) featured an article about a local Catholic school’s participation in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Unfortunately, many Catholics and Christians do not realize that despite their good intentions to find a cure for breast cancer, the Susan G. Komen fund annually contributes millions of dollars to Planned Parenthood, our nation’s largest abortion provider. The Susan G. Komen fund also supports embryonic stem cell research. These positions are anti-life and antithetical to the teachings of the Catholic Church.
The Susan G. Komen fund not only contributes millions of dollars to Planned Parenthood, but the organization also denies the proven link between abortion and breast cancer. Currently eight medical organizations, including the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, believe that there is a “highly plausible” relationship between abortion and the subsequent development of breast cancer. A British medical journal, The Lancet, also stated, “Induced abortion before first term pregnancy increases the risk of breast cancer” (Feb. 22, 1986).
The Susan G. Komen organization also denies any link between the use of oral contraceptives and the development of breast cancer, which contradicts numerous medical studies. For example, Dr. Chris Kahlenborn demonstrated that a woman who takes birth control pills before her first child is born has at least a 40 percent increased risk of developing breast cancer and a woman who has taken the pill for four or more years prior to the birth of her first child has a 72 percent risk factor in developing breast cancer.
As Catholics, we need to educate others about the medical risks of abortion and oral contraceptives. Many cases of breast cancer could be prevented if women knew about the risks of abortion and contraception. We also need to avoid financially supporting secular organizations that undermine the teachings of the Catholic Church. It is unfortunate that Catholic school children are becoming involved with fund-raising efforts for groups that are pro-abortion and pro-embryonic stem cell research.
We hope and pray that Catholic schools and parishes will diligently research the positions of secular organizations, especially disease advocacy organizations, before they involve Catholic children and schools in fund-raising events.
Nick O’ Connor
Bridget Kurt
Cathedral of Christ the King Respect Life Ministry
Atlanta
