Letters to the Editor

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Archbishop Buechlein’s prayers, presence at Indy 500 always touched many people

In reading the many stories about Archbishop Emeritus Daniel M Buechlein, I don’t remember reading anything about his invocation before the running of the Indianapolis 500.

In his prayer to the thousands of people who filled the 2 1/2 mile oval, he prayed for the servicemen who served and the many who gave their lives that we could enjoy our freedom, one being able to attend the race.

He prayed for the safety of the race drivers as well as the fans.

If there was rain in the forecast, he would end with, “Please Lord, keep the rains away.”

The applause and roar was much louder than any thunder. On this day each year, he touched many.

- Joan Gilley | New Albany

Archbishop Thompson’s pastoral reminds us of call to welcome immigrants, refugees

This is what I hear Archbishop Charles C. Thompson pastorally prophesying in “We are One in Christ,” his recent pastoral letter to the Church in central and southern Indiana:

Many immigrants and refugees suffer from the absence of peace. We as their Christian brothers and sisters are to form an attitude of compassion, hope and prudence for refugees and immigrants.

In America, great is the number of such fellow brothers and sisters who are disturbed and displaced. We are called by the Holy Spirit to embrace all those fleeing from war and hunger, or forced by discrimination, persecution, poverty and environmental degradation to leave their homeland.

We are to make a concrete commitment to be informed by Christ and his Church, not a political ideology, in our welcoming them.

We are to be present to provide a network of assistance, listening and hearing both sides, and applying a prudent attitude of compassion and hope guided by God’s good will, which is the common good and human dignity of all and the safeguarding of the family.

We are to be vigilant: to Christ and his Church; to finding ways to network and assist them; to clarify for ourselves the complexities that we may provide resources for aiding their need.

There is a human dignified way to welcome our brothers and sisters while maintaining security for them and our sovereign nation. We are called to welcome refugees and immigrants as children of God, protecting their dignity.

We are called to promote our Church and government to care for them, embrace them and treat them with esteem, dignity and with God’s love as his children made in his image and likeness.

- Gary Taylor | Milan