Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
March 13, 2002
Letters
SB 67 a bad idea
In his Feb. 27 column, Bishop José Gomez ventures from the realm of Scripture into that of state politics. He laments the death in committee of SB 67, a measure that would allow issuance of driver's licenses to undocumented aliens (i.e., those in the United States illegally).
He argues that public safety will be served because undocumented aliens will necessarily get auto insurance, and we will all benefit. Wrong! Those who violate the mandatory insurance law generally do so because they cannot afford insurance, or would rather spend the money on something else. If an individual chooses to drive without insurance, he will continue to do so even if given the opportunity to have his photo on a license.
Second, Bishop Gomez argues that a benefit would accrue to law enforcement since driver's licenses provide an avenue to track felons, warrant violators, child support violators, etc. If I fell into any of those categories, the last thing in the world I would do is walk into a government office, fill out papers, and have my photo taken. Again, the impact SB 67 would have on tracking offenders would be negligible.
He argues that licenses would allow authorities to track terrorists. However, five of the 9/11 terrorists had driver's licenses from Virginia, a state that has something akin to SB 67! The bishop states that the Immigration and Naturalization Service is not significantly interested in driver's licenses as an immigration enforcement tool. While this may have historically been true, that is about to change. The Bush administration is about to greatly expand the scope and budget of INS, and no doubt driver's licenses will come under great scrutiny.
The foregoing does not mean nothing should be done for the undocumented worker. Far from it. I would suggest the bishop's office provide the administrative framework for a pro bono legal foundation to give advice and, more importantly, representation to undocumented workers who desire documentation, and ultimately U.S. citizenship. One can envision an organization made up of retired lawyers and paralegals in the archdiocese.
Tom Bruno
Children can evangelize
In response to the article and letters on the home-school issue, I would like to give another viewpoint.
While I admire those who home-school and understand that it is their desire to control the negative influences that may otherwise affect a child in a traditional school setting, I see it another way. I feel that an open line of communication is extremely important between a child and a parent, whether home-schooled or not. Unfortunately, there are a lot of negative messages in the world. Our family discusses them together and uses them to help teach what God's plan really is for us. I have been so rewarded in seeing my children, especially my teen, pass on what we have discussed to friends and classmates, and get them excited about issues such as chastity and avoiding peer pressure and standing up for what you believe in.
How are we going to change the world if we keep our children away from the ills of society instead of sending them armed with the right messages in to the thick of the battle! What a wonderful way to answer God's call to evangelize!
Mary Heffernan
Littleton
Blessed innovations
In response to B.E. Stuart's letter that appeared in the Feb. 13 Register regarding "too many innovations" and that the Latin Mass is sorely missed: First of all, the so-called "authentic" Latin Mass was established as a result of changes that occurred long after Jesus' example of Eucharist took place, and those were unnecessary "innovations." Why? Because what Jesus did was break a fresh-baked loaf of bread and then pass it to the disciple that was seated on his immediate left to partake of, after which that person, in turn, would do likewise. Then he offered the cup of his blood in the same fashion. He never asked that they kneel at any time. The Catholic Church — at least the one that I was baptized into — argued for years that only a validly ordained priest has a right to minister the Eucharist, kneeling is more reverent than standing, and that clergy types are of privileged state to receive both forms of Eucharist, whereas the non-ordained aren't. Vatican II called for a return to what Jesus specifically asked of us to do regarding the Eucharist.
I was a Eucharistic minister in the 1980s and did so from the depths of my heart because of my heart-felt love and respect for the holy Eucharist. When I underwent my training my parish's deacon insisted that we are not just "extraordinary" ministers of the Eucharist but important members of the Body of Christ and that our actions at Mass — and in daily life — should reflect that. Thanks to my involvement with the ministry, as well as my pastoral musicianship since 1980, I almost have an actual halo hanging over my head!
For the reasons stated above I don't miss the Latin Mass and wouldn't want to go back to it at all. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved an unnecessary innovation in the Church like me! Yes indeed, God be praised!
Robert Ostrowski
Golden
Document illegal immigrants
The Feb. 27 Denver Catholic Register contains Bishop José Gomez's column on the failure of the Legislature to pass SB 67. Resolve the issue by having "undocumented" immigrants document themselves.
Stephen Tracy
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