SPEAKOUT

Birth control, not abortion

MAKE ABORTIONS obsolete. Prevent these unwanted pregnancies by birth control, and there will be no abortion issue.

Minimum-wage logic

I CAN'T really understand some of these Republicans' thinking on the minimum wage. Are they telling me if everyone worked for nothing, then everything would be free? That's the way they sound like it is on the minimum wage by saying it should be cheaper.

Overcoming past problems

I JUST have something that I'd like to say about myself. I lost my job two years ago because of health. I worked 24 years in a business here in town. After I had several surgeries, they had no opening for me. I had no income, I lost my car, and I had to declare bankruptcy. I finally got my disability. Since then, various people, businesses, individuals and my different friends have been treating me like dirt. What happened was not my fault. My so-called friends don't come around. I'm still the same person, and I have feelings like anybody else. Thanks to a couple of local businesses, I do have some credit re-established. I have a beautiful home. I'm no longer ashamed.

It is still murder

HOW FORTUNATE to have a priest who proclaims abortion for what it is. His apparent blow-by-blow description seemingly convicted some hearts that truly need it. Many of the adult population still favor abortion, and if we need to start with our children knowing what really goes on, then perhaps the generation coming up can be the turning point for our nation. It is time we stop giving abortion fancy and proper-sounding names and call it what it is. I am not of Catholic faith, but I send that priest my thanks and congratulations. We need to put aside the vain reasoning of saving the mother's life or destroying an imperfect fetus. It is still murder. I have firsthand knowledge of the pain a family goes through in the birth of a child with problems. Twice through this experience and still we stand against abortion. Also, a very close friend had very serious health problems after becoming pregnant, even to the point of a risk to her own life. She chose not to abort and now has a beautiful 2-year-old daughter.

Time to seek mercy

I WOULD like to respond to the comment on the strong sermon on abortion. I also was present at that sermon. What the person who complained seemed to miss was that particular Sunday was Divine Mercy Sunday, and the priest was pointing out that our country's current tragedies such as abortion and in particular a partial-birth abortion are more than reason enough to beg our heavenly father for mercy on us all. I applaud the priest for saying what he had to say. If only more people would stand up and try to wake up America to our serious sins. Please realize the babies who are aborted in a partial-birth abortion can indeed survive. And believe me, there are hundreds of childless couples who would jump at the chance to raise a true blessing from God. Have mercy on our naivete and blindness.

More foreign assistance

BILL CLINTON has promised financial aid to another foreign country. My, my. We are so popular in this country about giving away the taxpayers' money and, at the same time, they're wanting to cut social programs in this country. These people do not realize or know where their priority is. We cannot support the world. There's no reason why this Social Security fund should be in the shape it's in. They should keep their cotton-picking fingers out of that fund. It has nothing to do with the budget. But still they want to cut Medicare and Medicaid from people who really need it to give to foreign countries.

Holding to convictions

THIS IS to the person responding to the strong sermon about abortion. I was at the same Mass, and I couldn't sit still in my pew because I was so excited that someone was actually taking a stand on the issue. I was sorry that he had to give a sermon on what partial-birth abortions are. They shouldn't be happening. It is our priests' and pastors' duty as men of the cross to preach God's will -- thou shall not kill -- and it is our duty as Christians to spread the pro-life message throughout the world. Violence, abuse, the distribution of condoms and the like are everywhere. People are so desensitized by the evil that surrounds us every day that sometimes we as Christians have to describe sucking babies' brains out when they are halfway born just to get attention. This is happening in our country. I don't call it distorting the facts. I call it pleading for all of us to take action. If our priests don't take a stand on what is right, then who will? I will, Father, and there are a lot more people supporting and praying for you. God bless you for holding strong to your convictions.