Get It Done, Gov!
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was already made on the website, but too late for the print copy.) The award Shayla received is named the Maloof Family Young Peacebuilder Award, but Maloof is not Shayla’s name. David Maloof, whose family made the award possible, received the Eileen Egan Peacemaker Award in 2013. That award is not a New York award, but a national award. The young man who received a Certificate of Commendation is Christopher Malchus. His name was misspelled in the article and photo caption. My own title is Director of Pax Christi Metro New York, which is a regional chapter of Pax Christi USA, a member of the international Catholic peace movement. I firmly believe names are important, not to be egotistical, but to be respectful. Thank you for allowing me to offer these corrections. ROSEMARIE PACE Manhattan
Correction on Bishop Ford Grads
Dear Editor: There was a typographical error (May 31) regarding the number of graduates from Bishop Ford H.S. The number of graduates are 147 not 47. It would be greatly appreciated if this was corrected because over the past couple of months this high school has be experiencing quite a bit of bashing due to the closing. Thank you. ANGELA BERNARDO Brooklyn
Local Fortnight Observance
Dear Editor: In 2013, Bishop James D. Conley of Lincoln, Neb., wrote: “When Catholics spend six days of each week living like everyone else, we find that our right to practice our faith in everyday life starts to come under threat and even disappear... Prayer, fasting and penance are the first things to disappear when God’s Church decides to live just like the rest of the world. We must restore these practices, if we are serious about defending religious freedom.” The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has once again has urged Americans to observe a Fortnight of Freedom beginning on June 21 and ending on July 4. The theme of this year’s Fortnight is freedom to serve the poor and vulnerable in accord with human dignity and the Church’s teaching. To observe the start of this Fortnight, the Knights of Columbus from Brooklyn 60 invite all to join them in a night of Eucharistic Adoration at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica. The evening will begin with the 7 p.m.Mass for Life on June 20 and will continue until the 8:45 a.m. Mass on June 21. Those who are new to this devotion should know that they don’t have to commit to the whole night, though they are welcome to do so. You plan on coming when you can and staying for whatever time you can devote, even if only for a few minutes. Our Lady of Perpetual Help is located on Fifth Ave. and 60th St. in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn. CHARLES BUCKLEY Dyker Heights
June 7, 2014
Get It Done, Gov! If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again. That’s our motto when it comes to trying to achieve justice for parents who send their children to private and parochial schools. The struggle has gone on for decades and we are so close to achieving a significant victory. You’ll recall a couple of months ago when Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the State Legislature were putting together the State Budget. We were “assured” by the governor that an education tax credit would be part of the process. The proposal would not have given money directly to schools or students. It would merely provide a tax credit to people who donated to a scholarship fund such as our own Futures in Education that helps students attend Catholic schools in Brooklyn and Queens. It also would have reimbursed all teachers for money they spend out of pocket for classroom supplies. There was something for everyone in the package. Despite the assurances by the governor to the New York State Bishops, the deal fell through at the last minute. Public school advocates, who oppose even such indirect help for private schools, twisted the arms of politicians, apparently using strategies unknown to Gov. Cuomo, and the bill sank to the bottom of the political ocean. This week, the state’s bishops have launched a state-wide public relations campaign to remind Gov. Cuomo of his promise. After all, the Governor and his own siblings attended some of the finest Catholic schools right here in the diocese. Shouldn’t every kid have the same chance? Cardinal Timothy Dolan, flanked by children in Catholic school uniforms, is shown in a television ad saying: “Governor Cuomo had assured us that he would fight for an innovative plan to help these students. But when the state budget was done, we were left out. Governor Cuomo, we’re glad to hear you say the education tax credit should be passed,
that you get it. But now’s the time to get it done. “Please don’t forget us, Governor. Pass that education tax credit, so every child can have a great school. We’re all counting on you.” And the chorus of kids chime in: “Governor Cuomo, don’t let us down!” A companion newspaper ad that will run in papers throughout the state, continues the theme with the headline: “Governor Cuomo: Don’t Let Us Down.” That ad begins in papers in Western New York State where the Diocese of Buffalo is facing an especially daunting prospect of closing ten schools this June. The Governor has been particularly concerned about that part of the state and has announced economic recovery plans for the area. Part of that process certainly should be the prospect of helping parents afford the schools of their choice. In the closing weeks of the current Legislature, there is still time to breathe new life into the education tax relief bill, which already has passed the State Senate. Gov. Cuomo is running for reelection. His Republican opponent, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino already has pledged his support for the proposal. Cuomo would be smart to get ahead of the issue and not allow it to become a potentially explosive campaign issue. We don’t need to explain to the governor exactly how to proceed. He has proven to be an astute politician who knows how to get things done. It would be nice if he spread some of that political know-how around so that all the children in the state have a fair chance at getting a decent education and not become subservient to a single system of schooling. Governor, don’t be foolish enough to assume you have the Catholic vote. Don’t tell us one thing and do another. We know you can get this done. You’ve already said you’re with us on this issue! Now, let’s get it done!
As Others See It We welcome letters to the Readers’ Forum but they must include (for verification purposes) the writer’s name, address and phone number. This includes letters sent via email. The name may be withheld upon request. Letters signed simply “Name Withheld” are not considered for print. Letters should be as brief as possible and, of course, all letters are subject to editing. Letters containing the proviso “Do Not Edit” also are not considered for print. E-mail letters to [email protected].
“This is not a matter of the Catholic Church’s trying to force its views on the rest of the country. To the contrary, it is a matter of the federal government trying to force its views on the Church. In addition, this is not an attempt to overturn health care reform. The Catholic bishops have always supported access to health care coverage for everyone, as long as the conscience rights and religious freedom of people and groups including the Catholic Church are protected.” — Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt, Bishop of Greensburg, Pa.
17
was already made on the website, but too late for the print copy.) The award Shayla received is named the Maloof Family Young Peacebuilder Award, but Maloof is not Shayla’s name. David Maloof, whose family made the award possible, received the Eileen Egan Peacemaker Award in 2013. That award is not a New York award, but a national award. The young man who received a Certificate of Commendation is Christopher Malchus. His name was misspelled in the article and photo caption. My own title is Director of Pax Christi Metro New York, which is a regional chapter of Pax Christi USA, a member of the international Catholic peace movement. I firmly believe names are important, not to be egotistical, but to be respectful. Thank you for allowing me to offer these corrections. ROSEMARIE PACE Manhattan
Correction on Bishop Ford Grads
Dear Editor: There was a typographical error (May 31) regarding the number of graduates from Bishop Ford H.S. The number of graduates are 147 not 47. It would be greatly appreciated if this was corrected because over the past couple of months this high school has be experiencing quite a bit of bashing due to the closing. Thank you. ANGELA BERNARDO Brooklyn
Local Fortnight Observance
Dear Editor: In 2013, Bishop James D. Conley of Lincoln, Neb., wrote: “When Catholics spend six days of each week living like everyone else, we find that our right to practice our faith in everyday life starts to come under threat and even disappear... Prayer, fasting and penance are the first things to disappear when God’s Church decides to live just like the rest of the world. We must restore these practices, if we are serious about defending religious freedom.” The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has once again has urged Americans to observe a Fortnight of Freedom beginning on June 21 and ending on July 4. The theme of this year’s Fortnight is freedom to serve the poor and vulnerable in accord with human dignity and the Church’s teaching. To observe the start of this Fortnight, the Knights of Columbus from Brooklyn 60 invite all to join them in a night of Eucharistic Adoration at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica. The evening will begin with the 7 p.m.Mass for Life on June 20 and will continue until the 8:45 a.m. Mass on June 21. Those who are new to this devotion should know that they don’t have to commit to the whole night, though they are welcome to do so. You plan on coming when you can and staying for whatever time you can devote, even if only for a few minutes. Our Lady of Perpetual Help is located on Fifth Ave. and 60th St. in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn. CHARLES BUCKLEY Dyker Heights
June 7, 2014
Get It Done, Gov! If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again. That’s our motto when it comes to trying to achieve justice for parents who send their children to private and parochial schools. The struggle has gone on for decades and we are so close to achieving a significant victory. You’ll recall a couple of months ago when Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the State Legislature were putting together the State Budget. We were “assured” by the governor that an education tax credit would be part of the process. The proposal would not have given money directly to schools or students. It would merely provide a tax credit to people who donated to a scholarship fund such as our own Futures in Education that helps students attend Catholic schools in Brooklyn and Queens. It also would have reimbursed all teachers for money they spend out of pocket for classroom supplies. There was something for everyone in the package. Despite the assurances by the governor to the New York State Bishops, the deal fell through at the last minute. Public school advocates, who oppose even such indirect help for private schools, twisted the arms of politicians, apparently using strategies unknown to Gov. Cuomo, and the bill sank to the bottom of the political ocean. This week, the state’s bishops have launched a state-wide public relations campaign to remind Gov. Cuomo of his promise. After all, the Governor and his own siblings attended some of the finest Catholic schools right here in the diocese. Shouldn’t every kid have the same chance? Cardinal Timothy Dolan, flanked by children in Catholic school uniforms, is shown in a television ad saying: “Governor Cuomo had assured us that he would fight for an innovative plan to help these students. But when the state budget was done, we were left out. Governor Cuomo, we’re glad to hear you say the education tax credit should be passed,
that you get it. But now’s the time to get it done. “Please don’t forget us, Governor. Pass that education tax credit, so every child can have a great school. We’re all counting on you.” And the chorus of kids chime in: “Governor Cuomo, don’t let us down!” A companion newspaper ad that will run in papers throughout the state, continues the theme with the headline: “Governor Cuomo: Don’t Let Us Down.” That ad begins in papers in Western New York State where the Diocese of Buffalo is facing an especially daunting prospect of closing ten schools this June. The Governor has been particularly concerned about that part of the state and has announced economic recovery plans for the area. Part of that process certainly should be the prospect of helping parents afford the schools of their choice. In the closing weeks of the current Legislature, there is still time to breathe new life into the education tax relief bill, which already has passed the State Senate. Gov. Cuomo is running for reelection. His Republican opponent, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino already has pledged his support for the proposal. Cuomo would be smart to get ahead of the issue and not allow it to become a potentially explosive campaign issue. We don’t need to explain to the governor exactly how to proceed. He has proven to be an astute politician who knows how to get things done. It would be nice if he spread some of that political know-how around so that all the children in the state have a fair chance at getting a decent education and not become subservient to a single system of schooling. Governor, don’t be foolish enough to assume you have the Catholic vote. Don’t tell us one thing and do another. We know you can get this done. You’ve already said you’re with us on this issue! Now, let’s get it done!
As Others See It We welcome letters to the Readers’ Forum but they must include (for verification purposes) the writer’s name, address and phone number. This includes letters sent via email. The name may be withheld upon request. Letters signed simply “Name Withheld” are not considered for print. Letters should be as brief as possible and, of course, all letters are subject to editing. Letters containing the proviso “Do Not Edit” also are not considered for print. E-mail letters to [email protected].
“This is not a matter of the Catholic Church’s trying to force its views on the rest of the country. To the contrary, it is a matter of the federal government trying to force its views on the Church. In addition, this is not an attempt to overturn health care reform. The Catholic bishops have always supported access to health care coverage for everyone, as long as the conscience rights and religious freedom of people and groups including the Catholic Church are protected.” — Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt, Bishop of Greensburg, Pa.
17
