An Aug. 28 column on assisted suicide (“Bishop’s views on suicide flawed”) says that Bishop Richard Malone of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland attempts “to force his views on those who do not share his faith.”

This is an example of the fuzzy thinking that is so commonplace today. There is an essential distinction between expressing or arguing one’s views as opposed to imposing (forcing) those views on somebody else, however one would do that.

The bishop did not surrender his citizenship nor his right to free speech when he became a Catholic prelate, any less than the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton did when they became members of the clergy and later candidates for the presidency of the United States.

Exercising his First Amendment right to free speech, Bishop Malone believes that assisted suicide is not reasonable, not just, and not good for society — as do I.

The writer also says that “religion and politics don’t mix very well.” Obviously, he doesn’t know that Christian clergy and Jewish rabbis were in the forefront of the civil rights movement.

The Catholic Church supports humane immigration policies. Religion teaches — not forces — many things that can be understood as true and worthy of adoption by people who aren’t religious at all.

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Some people who complain about somebody else’s views being imposed on them really want to impose their own views on somebody else.

“No man ought to inflict upon himself voluntary suicide, for that is to escape the ills of time by plunging into those of eternity,” said St. Augustine.

The fact that you featured such a puerile commentary speaks volumes about where your sympathies lie.

 


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