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By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
We have received a number of messages and letters objecting to the coverage of the presidential election on the front page of the Nov. 13 Hawaii Catholic Herald. The complaints were mainly two. First, that it was premature to announce Joseph Biden the winner because the Electoral College hasn’t voted yet. Second, because he is a Catholic, his pro-abortion position disqualifies him from having his photo and story so prominently in the paper.
On the first point, the popular votes had been cast and counted and Joseph Biden came out on top with more than enough electoral votes to win the Electoral College’s vote in December. Yes, the headline did not include the fact that his win would only be official with the exercise of an electoral vote.
The second point needs more consideration. Joe Biden is a Catholic, a parishioner at St. Joseph on the Brandywine in Greenville, Delaware. He has spoken fondly of his Irish Catholic family traditions, and how his faith supported him when he lost his wife and daughter in an automobile accident and his son to cancer. He carries a rosary, refers to Catholic social teaching and quotes papal encyclicals on the campaign trail.
But he is gravely wrong when it comes to abortion. How can he reconcile his Catholic faith with a political stance that is so staunchly pro-abortion? How can he be for policies that deny the right to life for the most vulnerable class of people, the unborn?
For many, it was a crystal-clear reason to deny Biden their vote.
This past electoral campaign exposed us to a lot of commentary masquerading as news. So, in hindsight, I can see how readers would be alarmed by the Herald’s front-page article. But it was an objective news story about the most consequential presidential election in a generation, one of particular Catholic interest, written by two veteran Catholic reporters for Catholic News Service, the news service of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. It was not a statement of approval or endorsement, congratulations or commendation. In fact, one-third of the story was about President Trump challenging the results.
We are not always happy about the results of an election, but that’s democracy. We accept the person elected. If we do not agree with the person’s policies, it is incumbent upon us to be all the more vocal in trying to influence the person. It is better that we spend our energies seeking a convert than condemning a heretic.
Finally, I would like to express gratitude for those who thought highly enough of the newspaper to take the time to write and express their opinions, critical as they may be. Most of their letters are on this page. Thank you. And for you who canceled your subscriptions, I hope you return.
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Letters to the Herald
Most of these letters have been shortened for space considerations
Gives the impression
Reluctantly, we must object to the way you have used the Nov. 13 edition.
Our objection is because you placed on the front page, almost half of the page a color picture of the presumed president elect. The picture along with an article that seems to us and many others who have expressed concern to glorify and gives the impression that the paper/church supports and favors the presumed president elect.
Glorifying someone who is an advocate for abortion may by some put into question the mission of the Hawaii Catholic Herald since it is the recognized newspaper for Catholics in the Diocese of Honolulu with our bishop as the publisher.
We presume it was without intent, but this edition seems to put a cloud on the teaching or the position of the church pertaining to “the sanctity of life and the taking of the lives of the unborn.”
Deacon Ernie & Donna Carlbom, Kailua
Remove my name
It is with much angst, bewilderment, disappointment and sadness that I am requesting that you remove my name and address from your Hawaii Catholic Herald subscription list immediately.
I cannot understand the decision to put Biden’s photo and the accepting of the presidency article on the front page! First of all, unless all protocol of America has changed, the formal determination of the election is determined by the Electoral College. As far as I am aware, this hasn’t happened. Associated Press and Fox News are news media and have never and are not presently the official declarers of who won the presidential election.
More so, I am shocked that all the accolades are for Biden who has been and is a strong advocate for abortion and most recently for late-term abortion. We have had more than 60-plus million innocent voiceless unborn babies legally aborted/murdered. How many more will have to be murdered for Catholics/Christians to say “That’s enough”?
Lorene B. Pua Hofbauer, Kailua
Fawning story
Your front-page story of Nov. 13 reported that 49% of Catholics voted for the apostate Catholic Joe Biden. I was extremely disappointed that you ran Ms. Guidos’ fawning story, which negligently failed to highlight the shocking, inexplicable fact that nearly half of the Catholic voters are either 1) ignorant of church teaching or, worse still, 2) knowledgeable of church teaching and chose not to apply. If you want to maintain my readership, you need to use your platform to educate Hawaii Catholics and take a stand against the genocide of abortion, which means exposing candidates (and religious leaders, notably Sister Simone Campbell showcased in the article) who are complicit.
Vince Lowell, Kailua
A sad day
YOU gotta be kidding. Leading with THAT story. You know Biden sides with legislation that KILL BABIES. Not a Catholic with THAT kind of morality. He never once admitted his Catholic faith. ASHAMED? AFRAID? DEFIANT? We should not be proud he is Catholic. It is a sad day for all of us who want strong leaders that take a stand even when legislation is not the general consensus. Do better for our HAWAII CATHOLIC HERALD!!!
Bronwyn Farias
Not fair journalism
Mr. Biden is blatantly against the principles of what the church has stood for since its inception — for one, that life begins at conception and that the doctrine on abortion has been clear with the Catholic Church’s teaching, Mr. Biden supports abortion, that is, the murder of innocent human beings, plain and simple, and has openly stated that he will reverse whatever pro-life and religious freedoms President Trump has implemented!
And yes, President Trump is not a Catholic, but in my book of standards, he is a far better one than Mr. Biden has ever shown to be.
Kaala Coleman, Kailua
Attacked continuously
Donald Trump has done a tremendous amount for the Catholic community and mankind in general. He has been attacked continually through his four years with lies, complex made-up drama with baseless lawsuits and basic hate towards the man. He has sacrificed so much because he loves his country and sees the good in it! He does not deserve to be written off like this and neither do the faithful Catholics who support him.
After all the lies, made up stories, false accusations, I commend the president for all he has been able to do. It is his duty to be sure every legal vote is counted accurately. After all the corruption we have seen on the left and media in the last four years why should anyone think the left would not cheat to win an election. They have done it in everything else!
Bob Hoevel, Kailua
Makes me lose hope
I must say I’ve enjoyed your paper over the years and appreciate the valued content. Until this latest issue.
To have a headline state a falsehood as “Biden second Catholic elected US President” makes me lose hope in practically all journalism at this point. To reprint that article from the Catholic News Service I’m sure was convenient, but should you not have kept it truthful? I guess not.
If the Catholic media wants to support a president that has all the Soros-backed immigration lobbyist groups foaming at the mouth at the prospects of millions of new Democratic voters, so be it.
If the Catholic media want to lift up a Catholic who goes against many of its own church teachings, so be it. Just know that the division in this country will go much deeper than the office of the president; it will further divide and destroy our church.
Dennis Muth, Kailua
Two requirements
First of all, Biden has NOT been elected president. Not only is the election in dispute but there are two REQUIREMENTS to win the presidency: the electoral college has to confirm the election and/or the opponent has to concede. Did either happen? No, so Biden being elected to the presidency is a lie.
Second, Biden’s pro-abortion stand has made him ineligible to receive Communion. How can he be the “second Catholic”?
It is offensive to hear that bishops and nuns were supporting and congratulating a man that has made it no secret that he supports abortion and will work toward making abortion a constitutional law up to and including after birth. (Haven’t Catholics been praying for decades to end abortion?)
Nani Tavares
Promotes a socialist agenda
We were disappointed in the cover story on Biden. Constitutionally, he is not the president-elect until there is a certification. (It does not matter how many votes he has or how many news media state it). Secondly, endorsing a candidate just because he is Catholic goes against everything I teach and believe. This candidate believes and will enforce “abortion rights” — even after birth. He is a Catholic who also promotes a socialist agenda. To say I am displeased with the Herald is an understatement.
Sister Anne Clare De Costa, ss.cc., Honolulu
Less about our faith
I am 82 years old. My husband Harry and I are parents of four, grandparents of eight, great grandparents of seven and soon to be eight.
To say we are pro life is evident. This morning we requested we no longer receive Hawaii Catholic Herald. Over the past two to three years the opinions expressed have become more about social justice and caring for the marginalized, climate change and less about our faith. There has been one plea after another for us to give more money, not one message of encouragement to all of us who are having a rough time.
During Mr. Biden’s vice presidency there were 1 million abortions in the United States in 2011 and 926,000 in 2014. Look it up; it’s government information. This man is complicit in the “murder” of all those precious babies. Anyone, Catholic or Protestant or agnostic who voted for the man is complicit as well.
“See that no one deceives you,” Jesus said in Matthew 24.
Carol Ann Miles, Kailua-Kona
Erroneous article
A U.S. president is not officially elected until the State legislatures and electoral college certify thusly and it is declared in a joint session of the U.S. Congress.
This is especially important in an election that is so close and where there is a great chance of voter fraud.
In addition, Joe Biden claims to be a Catholic but is in name only. No one who so blatantly supports abortion at a national policy level as well as officiating same-sex “marriages” can truly be a practicing Catholic.
Lawrence P. Ritter, Waianae
We’re disappointed
We’re disappointed and, frankly, flabbergasted that a Catholic newspaper would put out what amounts to fake news and give implicit approval to Joe Biden who calls himself a Catholic but is obviously not living it and who has not been certified president.
In what universe can you call Joe Biden a Catholic? His very public stance on abortion on demand, his socialist agenda — his blatant corruption. Not to mention he has not been elected president and, if he does get declared president, it will be through cheating.
What were you thinking? To God be the glory … he will never be our president.
Pam and Mike Aqui, Kailua
