LETTERS: SUPPORT FOR CARNAHAN'S ACTION

To the editor:

Recently I attended Mass at the home parish of my aunt who lives in St. Louis. The homily based on the beatitudes will always cause you to be a little more humble. After communion and just before closing, the priest made a plea to the congregation. He stated something to the effect that "Governor Carnahan has taken a bold step in staying an execution and then removing the criminal from death row in response to the pope's visit and his request. Show your support for this action and contact Governor Carnahan's office on this matter." Personally, I wanted to stand up and shout "Amen!" after attending the papal youth rally and papal Mass. I didn't, because I recognize this would not be accepted too well in our Catholic congregation. The pope had an awesome phrase: "We must be unconditionally pro-life." Stop and ponder on that phrase a moment. It's simple but powerful. My personal plea is, that after you commend the governor on this action, give him a couple of days to enjoy the congratulations and then wallop him with the displeasure of the murdering of babies through abortion.

After Mass, I heard mumbling about the separation of church and state. It made me ponder the phrase, but after some prayer and meditation I say, "Bull hockey!" We as Christians have got to stand up and let our voices be heard. The priest was merely supporting the action of a government official. Should we not let our public officials know that the ware paying attention to their actions? The purpose of church is to give us spiritual direction in life. To grow, we must face challenges and overcome these challenges. This is true in our physical, mental and spirituals lives. To keep the body's spiritual faction growing, we must participate in some type of worship or meditation. I would recommend the Catholic church, but I am somewhat biased.

The purpose of government is to serve us. I believe some politicians might cringe when they really think about this statement. It seems as though politicians have got to serve whoever is supporting their campaign, not necessarily the people in their respective areas. Believe me, I don't envy their position at all, because I'm sure they are faced with temptations any human would find hard to resist. With these two purposes, I find that church and state have got to work together more than separation of church of state.

On the death penalty, I have to believe that spiritually it is not right. That's what the church teaches, and I believe in this. In the past, I know many of us, myself included, have approved of the death penalty. I haven't experienced it, but if someone would take the life of a family member or friend through cold-blooded murder, I say an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But the true purpose of the death penalty or any punishment is to deter an action. I must say that the death penalty is not deterring much action. Look at what a criminal has to look forward to when he has committed a horrendous crime: top legal defenses paid for by you and me, a nice bed paid for by you an me, three meals a day paid for by you and me. If the death penalty is enforced, we have literally supported this criminal for how many years? I think if we could try a criminal in a week, support an attorney to defend him for a week, give him food and water for a week, get all the facts we can in a week and, if found guilty, hand the criminal, we would see a reduction in these crimes. Sorry, folks, it's not going to happen like that. What needs reform more than our criminals is our legal system. What need support more than our churches are our families. Amen!

CHRIS LAYTON

Friedheim