Church and state

Re “Faith in government,” editorial, Dec. 29

As a Catholic, I object to those who conflate “pro-abortion” and “pro-choice.” The Constitution as defined by the Supreme Court is the law of the land, while citizens are free to practice religion according to their beliefs. The only way a Catholic politician can be faithful to church and country is to be “pro-choice,” as long as the Supreme Court upholds that position. Those who are “pro-abortion” are not acting Catholic because they affirm a procedure that takes a life. Likewise, those who are pro-death penalty and pro-war are not acting Catholic, unless a war is a “just war” that defends the innocent. Iraq was not so defined.

The problem I have with my church is in its unconscionable retreat from a pro-life stance by saying that abortion is worse than war. In war as in abortion, innocents die. Both are abhorrent to anyone who professes to follow the way of Jesus. However, in a democracy, one cannot uphold our right of freedom of religion by imposing one’s own beliefs on another. Thus, as a Catholic, I am “pro-choice” but not “pro-abortion.”

Jean E. Rosenfeld

Pacific Palisades

Your characterization of remarks by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney as being a “self-conscious insistence that he recognizes Jesus as his savior” is unfair and uninformed. Because there is a widespread misconception among some Americans concerning the characterization of Jesus by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that has to do with their impression that Mormons regard Christ in a vastly different manner than they do, it was necessary for Romney to address that concern.

Sunny Kreis Collins

Palm Desert

If one is a true Catholic, one knows without any doubt what it means to render unto God the things that are God’s, and of course that implies a respect for life in all forms. Many Catholics, even those baptized in the faith, are “a la carte” ones, such as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who like to pick and choose their convictions. It’s hard to find a true Catholic these days.

Cecelia and

Cliff Waeschle

Malibu